How can you tell me you understand,
When you wont listen?
You look at me,
But not see me for who I am.
I am no different than you,
Just because I have a disability,
You assume I am something else
Wont look me in the eyes
To full of arrogance to see
That I am full of pain,
That I too can bleed.
Just because I have a disability...
You judge me.
People are judged constantly,
True,
By the race, gender, clothes,
So much more
But can you honestly tell me,
That you know what its like
To be judged by something that cannot be helped?
People of race, gender and clothes,
So much more have a place they fit in as well
But what about someone like me....
When you cant help having scars,
And having a disability,
What about our chance to fit in
This society is messed up in so many ways
This world is full of cruelty.
Can you honestly tell me,
You know what its like
To be treated like an out cast,
Because a birth defect?
Author notes
written during talking with a friend about how unfair this world is. this poem was bascily our entire convo, just different in a way. there are spelling and i am sure other errors in there but i really really dont care right now.
AND JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW I DO HAVE A DISABILITY, ITS MILD CEREBRAL PALSY, I CAN STILL WALK TALK AND WHAT NOT YET I AM TREATED SO DIFFERENTLY.
thanks for reading plz comment.
Written May 25th, 2006
In a list
A contest entry
- Change the way I think by Hands of Diego.
859 points, ended July 31, 2006, 56 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 24 of 24
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wow
I truely understood this write hun and your no different from me or anyone else!!!!!! I love your writing hun
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People can truly understand, I promise.
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People with disabilities are no different than others we just have to do things a little different thats all. Thanks for addressing this very sensitive isssue for all to read
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Transcend All
IGNORANCE - the excuse for being insensitive, cruel or unaware. I think of ignorance as a disability , a disability of their own making. Their comes a time [no matter how your raised] when you must stand on your own and be responsible for how you view the world. Enough with the excuses, enough with the stares..... you rocked this out!
Namaste'
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There are so many "tiny minds" in this cold world and they are afraid of anything that is different than they are. These people usually have a hugh amount of prejudices, which only reveals how scared they really are. So the next time some "tiny mind" stares at your unusual beauty, bless them....they are really lost. What a deep, raw poem and I appreciated your sharing it with me. Blessings, Doris
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Some people are so afraid of things about others that are different, because they are ignorant and don't understand. The world is full of ignorant people. They need to educate themselves instead of living in darkness. They need to get a life, outside of the black hole that they live in.
I am so sorry that some people make you feel this way. They are the ones who are disabled by their own fears and lack of awareness and sensitivity.
One of the hardest things that I have ever dealt with is people staring. When I was on crutches for foot surgery once, many people stared. You would think they never saw a person using crutches before. It's okay to glance, but staring is ignorant and rude. Some people!
I just try to ignore people like that now, and forgive them, "for they know not what they do". I used to get so upset all the time that it was contributing to my illness. Now, I realize that my getting angry is not going to change the world, and it only hurts me.
My advice, for what it is worth is; live your life to the fullest and don't let people like that get you down. Ignore them and thrive - maybe someday they too will be enlightened! Pray for them. -
The poem is so raw and truthful. Written well. I feel your pain, The world can be a cruel place, and unfortunatly Untill I became disabled, I thought adults were decent. I learned quickly I was wrong. Sad but true. I applaud you in your strong poem that speaks out against cruelty of humanity!! Many hugs.
~Nikki
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awwwwww
I know you as a precious little lady! It is your heart and soul that count! One day little lady you will stand before God, run up and down on the streets of Gold and dance in the presence of the Lord. Your disability shall all be gone. You are a precious lady Beth! I am so glad I stopped by and read this! God bless you little lady, Mark
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That was so deep and true, and pure. I loved it, and it had such a great flow to it. In the few short hours that i've known you, you have probably opened my eyes more than any of my friends have done in the past few years. I don't know what you go through day to day, and I'm sorry for the way the world is. I will never judge you Beth, and I will always be you're friend/ AP brother. Keep writing sis, and know that I love ya!
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I hate when peoplejudge others befor they get to know them. great poem.
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Well when it comes to people who are so called *different* to societies standards I guess they're automatically conisdered a lower form. Look how black people used to be treated and it took a revolution to bring THAT standard up!! I like this poem how you put everything forth so boldly. You did an awesome job hun keep it up!!
♥Jordanne♥ -
thanks for your comment its good t see your comments again
i dont know what to say other than thanks. just trying to get my point across in ways....
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Absolutely wonderful write, Beth! I can't really relate to the poem at all because I guess I could be called "normal" but I could really feel your pain coming from the poem and I agree with your message. We can't know what someone else is experiencing unless we walk in their shoes. Thanks for sharing this!
God bless you 
--Tim -
AWESOME
AWESOME! I too, have mild cp. I hate it when people treat me differently! Why does everybody have to judge? Only God is the One who can judge. It's not right. This world is getting meaner by the day. (or so it seems!) Well, I loved this poem! I'm looking forward to reading more of your poetry! God bless you!
Ashley -
I'm really sorry that people can be so cruel. Good poem! Always remember though, God loves you and we are all made the way we are for a reason, just like people go through things that are bad, and in the long run help and relate to people in similar cercumstances, so keep the faith and try to remember that in the end all that matters is God. We will all be whole when we are with Jesus. God bless you!
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WONDERFUL POEM
This was a very heartfelt poem Beth. Some people are just ignorant and don't care about other's feelings. Try not to let them bother you. You are a wonderful girl. You have a heart of gold. You take care and keep writing these awesome poems. Love, Sandy
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Amen to this. A truly eye opening poem. I loved it. Thank you for sharing this with me.
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Thank you for giving us a voice. I was born with a defective and people including my own parents constantly put judgements on me. My boyfriend Brian has missing fingers due to a accident when he was a young man and people are also constantly making snap judgements about him. Society needs to know and realize that words and actions do hurt and we don't ever forget that. Thanks for sharing our story.
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Very effective
This is a strong and effective poem. Pure and true -- openness. -
Well i loved the poem and our society does suck. Im sorry to hear that you go through so much crap, people gotta realize that were no diffrent from them.
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Hidden, as far os your poem reads I liked reading it, as I found it interesting. I guess for me because I became disabled later in life I look at things differently. My biggest problem is that I try too hard to be normal. I am supposed to stop working but can't and won't, I am not supposed to do things by myself because my problems are so I could be a danger to myself but I don't listen to that either. I look fairly normal and for that reason I don't want others to think less of me because my problems aren't so obvious. I really do understand your feeling but I guess I can comprehend them to the deapth that you. image and visions
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I mean it truly
Sure, I will comment. I have a disabled daughter who lives with me and she is limited in what she can do but she finds things to do that give her some pleasure in life. I guess that's all any of us can do. Maybe we are all more alike than different from each other in most ways. Everybody wants to be accepted and admired because that's part of how we get verification of our self-worth. If people don't understand or admire us, we have to prove to ourselves that we are ok and that can be done in different ways. Anyhow, let me be a friend to you at AP, okay? I would like to be your AP sister, if you will allow me to do that. There's a poem on my site, way back in my poems, called "I've Claimed You." I'd like you to find it and read it, please. You have written a fine poem, by the way. Truly well done. You are a talented poet.
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well done
wow alot of emotion. sometimes our system and society does suck, ok most of the time. why cant we see that we are all the same disabilities or not. we are all human and bleed the same. I t irritates me to have people looking down on disabled folks as no gooders. Im sorry if sound harsh but i hear poeple say all the time why cant they do this or that they can still walk or use the other hand so on and so on. It ridiculous. Poeple should think how would they feel if with the others shoes. How would we reactto peoples judgments and criticismn. I for one know i would feel like crap. I do not believe people shoudl be this way but unfortunately we live in a world with alot of people whom have no respect or courtesy. I thank you for sharing such a write that describes a serious issue at hand. Of course i apologize for going on and on but it rubs me the wrong. way again im sorry you did a great job. again thanks for sharing. and i hope this piece hits the hearts of many.
Victoria -
BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVO, My son is disabled and gets treated differently by so many people I even wrote a poem about what he goes through its called "seeing through the eyes of a disabled" nobody in this world should be treated differently, we all have 2 arms 2 legs and a heart that is normal then any other person, I commend you for writing such a poem at least their is others out there that feel for the disabled and if you are the one disabled just keep your head held up high thats what I teach my son, he is disabled like I said but he doesn't look at others who are more disabled then him yet they have the nerve to put these disabled down at least they have the common sense, you get my applause and standing ovation for this wonderful poem you had done showing that their is others out there who do feel for the disabled....good luck and keep smiling
Edited on May 25, 1:16 because ''.
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