A Disabled Manifesto

Awkward and embarrassing, in we get,

Claiming access to services and goods,

Legally, without your hindrance, or let.

~

Thrawn* and used to solving problems, unmet,

We do not need your grudging care and shoulds,

Awkward and embarrassing, in we get.

~

Ignoring invitations, tête-à-têtes,

We enter, undiscussed, despite your moods,

Legally, without your hindrance, or let.

~

Unsurprised when, once again, you forget,

To mention our exemptions, as you should,

Awkward and embarrassing, in we get.

~

Entering sans muzzle, in spite of threat,

Refusing lanyard, star, triangle, hood,

Legally, without your hindrance, or let.

~

No handmaid, doctor, proctor, Pharma pet,

May act in bad faith where the law is good,

Awkward and embarrassing, in we get,

Legally, without your hindrance, or let.

~

(c) Alan McManus, Creative Commons licence: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives.

* “thrawn” (Scots) = stubborn, with connotations of strength of conviction under long suffering and a perverse unwillingness to desist in spite of the odds.

White graphic of wheelchair user on blue background

Thanks to Petr Kratochvil for releasing his image Disabled Sign into the Public Domain.