“MY DISABLED WORLD” – THE FINAL POEMS

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THE COMPETION HAS NOW CLOSED

VIRGIN MEDIA are joint sponsors of “My Disabled World”

A LIST OF OUR NOMINATED CHARITIES SO FAR

MS (Twice);  Cancer Research (Twice);  Rutherford School;  Crohn’s & Colitis;  British Heart Foundation (Twice);  SCOPE (Four times);  Revialize;  Shekinah;  Versus Arthritis (Twice);  WWF; Alzheimer’s Society;  AMAZE (Three times);  Sutton Nightwatch;  Stepping Stone Theatre for Mental Health (Twice);  BRAKE;  MIND (Nine times);  Children’s Hospice South West (Little Harbour);  Independent Lives;  SSAFA;  MNDA;  Bob Champion Cancer Charity;  Popsy Charity;  Invest in ME;  NCBI;  The Humane Society;  Dementia Care;  Headway UK Twice);  Heart of Darts;  Rights of Women (Twice);  Complex PTSD;  NASS (Twelve times);  FSH Muscular Dystrophy;  Mencap;  Teach Us Too;  Simon Community Glasgow;  Action on Hearing Loss;  Spinal Injuries Association (Twice);  Bay Area Lyme Foundation;  KEEN Oxford;  The Parasol Project; Caudwell LymeCo (SIX times); White Lodge;  Zetta;  Help For Heroes ; Retina UK; Horses helping People;  RSPCA;  Dogs Trust;  Jim Cronin Memorial Fund;  N. I. Chest, Heart & Stroke (Twice);  Daft As A Brush;  Smile Train Africa;  Share A Star;  The Dystonia Society:  Bendrigg Trust;  PHAB;  Spondylitis Association of America;  Pets As Therapy (Seven times);  Teenage Cancer Trust; Warwickshire Vision Support;  Arthur Rank Hospice;  Synolos Social Enterprise;  Royal Society for the Blind (Adelaide);  CAROUSEL; The Baton;  Scottish Autism;  Autism Family Support (Oxford); Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion;  Dyspraxia Foundation UK;  Whizz-Kidz;  Warwick Rethink;  M.U.S.T Hostel; The Chiltern MS Centre’  The Rising Sun Institute For Special Children and M.E. Research.

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“My MS – the unwanted guest”

Not a day goes by, my body always pained,
Muscles in spasm, my nerves inflamed.
Pills in the morning and middle of the day,
Even injections to jeep it at bay.
Each day gets harder and harder to cope,
Without any compliments, it gives me no hope.
Apart from my legs, what’s wrong with me?
I’d like to know what you really see.
I only feel normal when driving my car,
An able-bodied person seen from afar.
Behind the wheel I’m as good as you all,
I’m happy and proud, less likely to fall.
Can’t swim, run, walk or dance,
But I’ve a lot to give,  just given the chance.
To live to old age, I think I’d despair,
I’ve put up with enough, it wouldn’t be fair.
Longevity, please, it’s not for me,
Tired of this body, just want to be free.
Unable to walk, unable to stand,
Where will I be, need a helping hand.
Said all my prayers, can’t cry any more,
Life full of troubles, emotions too raw.
Maybe I’ll catch something, body will fail,
To take me away on that Heavenly trail…
Who knows?
Poem submitted by Angie Burton whose favourite charity is:
The Chiltern MS Centre 
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If A Picture Paints A Thousand Words
(as the song)
My exterior is just a painted picture
That hides beneath many colours
of my inferior
Believe me this is unknown criteria
Let me draw you a picture that reflects
My expression of Mental Anxiety and
Panic attacks
Which feels like a broken world
With no empathy from anyone
as I search for someone
Painfully holding on to hope
for the loved one
Maybe we may elope
So many colours of Art
that scatter illusion
As I know when you look at me
you are in a state of confusion
My face certainly looks fine to you
but it is only hidden with mental abuse
Remember you cannot recognise anxiety
that reflects colours of dark blue days
that never ever fade
How I wish there was someone there
by my side to lead the way
Waiting for that light golden shade
underneath the tunnel
Maybe I can escape through a funnel
or even better
help my anxiety fears
please my dear
create that picture
One sky blue day
I will go on the Eurotunnel
As my journey is nothing but
Flight or Fight
Red alert shades
Palpitations that lead to
Panic attacks
Please come back
Stay with me
As I don’t want another relapse
While I am collapsing to the ground
All you have to do is keep talking to me
Help me get me out of this trance
and just knell on the green grass
But please do it fast
Paint me a colour of the rainbow
as I lay unconscious
Recover me through the steps
and bring me back to life
Into a warm glow of sunshine
If you don’t mind
You are so kind
You will help me complete this
Picture of a thousand words
As you help me breath
I am waking up to heal
You are the first one I see
that you are real
Now I truly believe
That this is an empathy deal
Poem submitted by Shaheen Iqbal whose favourite charity is MIND
The Dr. said … Spina Bifida
So thats what I have spina bifida
Thats what causes the pain,
All down my legs and my back
Its not just in my brain
All that time off school
I need to get on track
Focus and see what I can achieve
In myself believe
Not listen to those that are naive
Not let myself become invisible
Not do nothing and be miserable
They may look at me and stare
Its only a chair
To me my legs
I will not let my life be full of regrets
I am the same
I will feel no shame
I surround myself with positivity
Not let my mobility
Stop all the activity
Its just a disability
I will achieve all my goals
I can do any role
As good as you
Yes its true
Bless their souls
The trolls
Who don’t understand
About the productivity
All the activity
I can achieve even with limited mobility
Im human, I care, I love , I give
And I forgive
Those whom doubt my worth
This was my birth
The way I entered this earth
And I will show you im special to
I will come through in all do
And show you who knew
I always would
Its my life and its so good
Poem submitted by Ann Latham whose favourite charity is Pets As Therapy
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Disabelety

“Can I go to the garden too?”
I asked one day,
As I saw Anne collecting flowers in the garden
Like she does every morning

But mom refused
“Large scary bugs would eat you alive”, said she
I did not know that bugs can eat me
I wondered, however, why the bugs would spare Anne

Anne really is the best sister in the universe
I want to be just like her, strong and caring
I am a bit weak right now,
But mom said I will grow big soon if I drink my milk

I miss dad a lot
He left a long time ago
Mom and dad were always fighting
So, I asked Anne about it

She said something about my ‘disabelety’
Anne is so smart for knowing such difficult words
I do not know what that means though
I will be a big kid soon so I will ask mom then

I am turning six tomorrow
And I know just what my birthday gift is going to be
I will ask mom once again
“Can I go to the garden too?”

Poem submitted by Javeria Hamid whose favourite charity is:

Rising Sun Institute for Special Children

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When You Look At Me

Some call it ‘visual impairment’, others ‘disability’;

Yet to my mind ‘tis but a slight difficulty

To which I must adapt, come to terms with, and surmount,

Not letting it be a barrier to making my life count.

 

So I endeavour to live life with a positive attitude,

Greeting the difficulties I face with stoical fortitude;

I focus on all I can, and not on what I can’t do,

And thank God that the ‘can’ts’ are relatively few.

 

This weakness in one area doesn’t permeate the whole,

So why should it discourage me, or my life control?

In no life need it ever exert mastery,

For, have you e’er pondered the true limits of disability?

 

It cannot crush the spirit; it cannot break the will;

It cannot touch the soul, or its essence distil;

It cannot lessen emotions, or the heart’s capacity

To love fully, gladly, deeply and sacrificially.

 

It doesn’t breed discontentment, self-pity, bitterness,

But celebrates every positive with humble thankfulness;

And passion for life it, in no way, will diminish,

Nor snuff out the hunger to persevere to the finish.

 

It cannot divest us of individuality,

Nor stifle hopes, dreams, ambitions and creativity;

And it cannot mute a voice that should be heard, understood,

Nor prevent anyone being an influence for good.

 

For, be the problem one of mobility, speech or seeing,

It can never make its bearer a lesser human being,

Or negate their contribution to society;

So, won’t you focus on the person, not their disability?

Poem Submitted by Ian Caughey whose favourite Charity is:

Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke

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I Gave A Heart

I made a heart for you.                                                                                              You hold it like a precious ruby.                                                                                        The gold makes you feel happy like a bright apple.                                                            Red is a rose,                                                                                                                Love is like church music,                                                                                                Dancing feels like a waterfall,                                                                                          Almost in tears feels like raindrops,                                                                                  Kissing feels like soft gelato.

Poem submitted by Galina MacNeacail

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Award?

I’m spending a penny
Sending a sound
Hear Evelyn Glenny
Getting around
It is a waive sent
Speakin’ a load
Trip on a pavement
It’s unique is the code
Disabled, yes
With it a falter?
Pray with zest
The systems to alter
Believe in me please
Weathered a bit
From sleeves at knees
Developed to hit
Let plans bind
Become one
Listen Mankind
What’s done is done
But we enter a phase
Get the rain
Sent to a stage
Entertain
The plan may squawk
Grin at the sword
If I cany walk
Can I win an award?

Poem submitted by Joe McGurk whose favourite charity is Headway

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The Quest

Each journey starts with a small step                                                                              You try to get out of bed                                                                                                 First it takes an hour to clear your weary head

Swing you legs off the side                                                                                              The pain coursing, getting too much                                                                                 A crutch, a crutch, my kingdom for a crutch!

You try to stand up straight                                                                                             Then remember its been decades since your fused spine allowed                                       You walk on like a priest, head bowed

Push forward now                                                                                                          V for victory you start to move                                                                                        V for velocity, 0.00000000001 mph, I am in my groove

Now you traverse on                                                                                                      Like a character from Tolkien                                                                                          You make it to you throne                                                                                              Now if I could only wipe my……………………..

Poem submitted by Chris Mcclusky whose favourite charity is NASS

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Visible me with M.E.

I’ve alway been invisible, me
Never the prettiest, smartest, or most bubbly
“Oh her, she’s quite nice but a bit boring”
I never had all the boys flocking, adoring

Then my body, mind and confidence grew
Enjoying lots of experiences, old and new
Came a little out of my shell and went just a bit wild
Then found a great man and had a gorgeous child

Now I’m sick but nothing dramatic for me
Just a slow stealing away of energy
Awful aches and pains and feeling of being ill
Unknown unless I always complain and I never will

Fitting, I suppose, to a tee
An invisible illness for invisible me
Having to cope with a life changing disease
When all around assume I’m at ease

Now, the challenge to be seen and get to be
The kind and generous person I never had time to be
Now I can see the beautiful, simple things all around
As I no longer have to rush, push and pound.

Poem submitted by Philippa Lowther whose favourite charity is M.E. Resarch

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