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Seen but Seldom Heard

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Seen but Seldom Heard is a constantly evolving project and we look forward to being able to offer more poetry workshops as part of future phases of the work. We have deliberately chosen to produce this book in an electronic format to enable us to easily update it as we have more work to share with you. Please follow our progress via our website http://microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk/seen-but-seldom-heard/ Copyright The authors of these poems retain copyright and grant the Seen but Seldom Heard project the right to publish their poems with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ This license allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this ebook. Any material that is remixed, transformed, or built upon must be distributed under the same license as the original.

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Acknowledgements

Seen but Seldom Heard Challenging Perceptions of Disability through Poetry and Performance

The poems featured in this book have been written as part of the ‘Seen but Seldom Heard’ project. ‘Seen but Seldom Heard’ seeks to empower disabled young people to find a voice through poetry. The young poets have been working with professional performance poets: Liv Torc and Jonny Fluffypunk, to produce compelling, emotive pieces which explore personal experiences of, and societal attitudes towards, disability. Through their work, the young people hope to challenge dominant perceptions and stereotypes; as they have said, “We’ve got the tools to take on the world, to change your mind, to make you see another way, through the power of our words.”

The ‘Poetry Sensations’ Lucy Willers Sean Trimm Nick Simmons Charles Mckechnie Hugo Lucas-Rowe Amy-Joy McNamara Charley Baker Kayleigh Willcox Jude Wardell-Knights George Roberts John Hannant David Young Jagdev Rathur

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The ‘Poetry Geezers’

John Hannant Stuart Blundell Alec Ross Katie Spurway Philip Henderson Abigail Punchard Jude Wardell-Knights Jordan Woodward Harry Bassett Connor Ferris Charles McKechnie Ebony Robinson Charlie Scott Abi Smith

Project Co-Ordinators

Wendy Cutts (School of Health & Social Care)

Dr. Caroline Hodges (Media School)

Bournemouth University, UK

We would like to thank the following people without whom this project would not have been possible: ! Liv Torc, Performance Poet ! Jonny Fluffypunk, Performance Poet ! Annie Caldwell ! Dr Lee-Ann Fenge, School of Health and Social Care, Bournemouth

University ! Nicky Hewitt and the teachers, carers and P.A.s at Victoria

Education Centre ! Nathan and Rowena Revill, Dorset Creative, Cinematography,

Production and Editing ! Alisha Attarwala, Interactive Book Designer & Video Editor ! Sharmeen Attarwala, Graphics & Illustrations for the Book ! Kenneth Macleod, Cinematographer & Video Editor ! Elizabeth Kaplen, Video Producer

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Particular thanks to the Talbot Village Trust who supported the production of this book, as well as the poetry workshops during 2013/14

We are also grateful for the support of: ! Bournemouth University Fusion Investment Fund ! BU Aimhigher ! BU Festival of Learning ! Economic and Social Sciences Research Council (ESRC)

Festival of Social Science

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CONTENTS Section 1 If my Hand Could Leave my Body 1

My Family Life 2

Friends to the End 3

Growing Up 4

Driver’s Eye View of Eyegaze 5

David 6

My Name is Jagdev Singh 7

Love Is 8 – 9

Me 10

Salad Cream on Toast 11

A Head Like Mine 12

The Real Me 13

Fierce Pumpkins 14

My Brother and I 15

When We Rule the World 16

The Stubborn Red Door 17

My Shadow 18

Spinal Jacket 19

Insight 20

To Be Normal 21

For The People Who Stare 22

Disability for Me 23

Feeling 24 - 25

My Accident 26 - 27

Disability for Me 28

Katie’s I-Pad 29

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Section 2 Hercules 31

The Arrow 32

The Horse 33

The Boat 34

The Boat 35

The Boat 36

To Aspire 37

The Wheelchair 38

The Sword 39

Section 3

Sky Dive 41

The Shopping Mall 42

My Cooking Pot with Wings 43

Taking on the World 44

Performance at the Albert Hall 45

Route 66 46

Poetry Express 47

Just Me 48

My Dad 49

My Dream Social Worker 50

OUR RIGHT! RAP 51 - 52

Don’t Stop Me Now 53 - 55

I Wanna 56

My Dance School 57

Time to Move on 58

Moving Class 59

Moving House 60

!

New Class 61

School Lunch 62

New Girlfriend 63

My Microphone 64

If my Tongue Could Leave my Body 65

If my Teeth Could Leave my Body 66

If my Heart Could Leave my Body 67

If my Brain Could Leave my Body 68

If my Heart/Brain could Leave my Body 69

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'We dedicate this book to John Hannant. Our friend and fellow poet, who always entertained us with his sense of

humour.'

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SECTION 1

The poems featured in this section challenge dominant stereotypes by communicating young people’s personal

stories of disability, as well as the issues and practices which affect them. The work featured conveys a range of

emotion - from excitement to frustration, by sharing passions, challenges and experiences.

! 1!

If my hand could leave my body...

If my hand could leave my body, it would go to Yorkshire. It would walk on all its fingers, touch the grass upon the moors.

If my hand could leave my body, It would find the great woman that I love...and hold her hand.

If my hand could leave my body, it would go to Australia, On the beach, touch the sand, Squeeze it through my fingers.

If my body left my hand, someone would push me to the cinema.

If my body left my hand, it would flop over. If my body left my hand, it would do nothing,

Because it wouldn’t be able to type.

Written by: Sean Trimm, John Hannant and George Roberts

! 2!

My family life

My family life is full on Crowded like a traffic jam

There's me and my twin Coral My sister Ellie

And my brother's Tom and Rory It's hectic and busy and loud

It's hard to find peace Or even a minute

Just to listen to my radio And be a sound beam Queen

My family life is never dull Like a Fluorescent light

In a dark room.

Written by: Abigail Punchard

! 3!

Friends to the end

We grew up together We laughed together

We got in trouble together We even made plans to live together

Unfortunately we never left this world together But my heart remains strong as I know again we will be together

forever.

Written by: Ray Hansford

! 4!

Growing up

Age 3, Mummy why can’t I walk? Age 5, Mummy I really want to run like my brothers!

Age 8, Mum I hate my chair it’s like a prison, Age 12, Mum my best friends in a wheelchair too,

Age 15, Mum my wheelchair is a part of me and I wouldn’t change it for the world,

Age 18, Mum it’s sad that the world doesn’t always accept disabled, however at the beginning I didn’t except my

disability either so maybe over time the world like me, will!

Written by: Ray Hansford

! 5!

Driver’s Eye View of Eyegaze

I am an Eye Gaze to help someone talk and do other things

I think I belong to someone called Dave

Someone I don't know, and I don't really care He sneezes his food all over me.

I get the half-eaten bits of pizza, pasta & chocolate porridge

I play music for him really loud,

till his mum says 'David John Young, TURN IT DOWN!!!'

Sometimes I text his brother and random girlfriends... His eyes drill through my screen,

like a light sabre cutting through a metal door. I think he uses me like a James Bond gadget to get the girls

to like him... I don't know why he needs me with the birds when his big

brown eyes can do all the talking...

Written by: David Young

! 6!

David

David can’t walk and he can’t talk. He goes around in his smart electric wheelchair

Talks through his electronic voice synthesiser And David is always laughing.

Though it takes great effort for David to just spell a word, let alone write a poem

still, he just gets stuck in. Goes for it. Let’s his heart pour out. It sounds funny, the way his voice synthesiser takes his words,

scrubs them free from emotion, takes the strongest passion and renders it flat and atonal...

But just look at his eyes David can control his eyes

Look at them, focussing on the screen, Burning like lasers

Searing his lines into being I’ll bet if you’d looked into Shelley’s eyes

or William Blake’s I’ll bet their eyes burned like that That’s how you can tell a poet,

Not by the way they stride the stage, Not by the way they bang the table and shout,

No, look into their eyes. They blaze, like David’s.

Written by: Jonny Fluffypunk

! 7!

My name is Jagdev Singh

My name is Jagdev Singh If I could I would change everything.

It all started at Bellemoor School When life became cruel

Bombs going off in my head A feeling I remember and dread.

I was picked up by St John And his paramedics didn’t turn the sirens on.

When I was eleven years and ten months, my life turned on its

head When I was eleven years and ten months, I lost my street cred When I was eleven years and ten months I had a brain injury When I was eleven years and ten months I gained a disability

I could not walk I could not talk I could not eat

I could not drink Fortunately though... I could still think

Six years down the line I am recovering. And even though I see life through a solar eclipse I still have a

vision. My name is Jagdev Singh

And I am changing everything.

Written by: Jagdev Rathaur

! 8!

Love is... Sometimes love is fragile like a wings of a butterfly, but other times

it is like the wind. Love is happy

Love is like heaven Love is like a rose.

Love makes you feel good in everyway Love is laughing with my Dad even though he makes me mad!

Love is like my Mum, a warm bath, smelling perfume, feeling happy and sunny.

Love makes me think of Mum and gives a good feeling in my tum! Love is expensive when it comes to food

I only like to talk about it when I’m in the mood. Love is like eating chocolate

Love makes me feel warm like a jacket potato. Love is like Pringles

Love is a crush you just can’t stop Love is squidgy

You should love someone for who they are I love my Mum and Dad, I love my brother Ryan

Love is my family and my friends. I love Auntie Shirlee and Becka and Mum...they help me.

I love my Auntie Elaine she makes me laugh. I love my mum...and my dog.

Most of my cats love to head butt me I love chickens in small trousers.

Love is love......it makes me feel warm I love sleeping and my dressing gown

Love isn’t always what it seems Love is nothing to me.

Love is painful Love can be as painful as my team losing at the weekend

A break up is not the best way to start Love is not love when you argue

Love is horrible when girls nag you Love stinks of smelly socks

! 9!

Love smells like orange roses Love is kissing, its happy and warm.

Love is paper roses and champagne and an invitation for life Love is a hug

We hug and kiss to music You can make the shape of a heart with a red apple

Gorgeous love, it looks magical Love is affectionate, it makes me feel fantastic

Love is important Love has power Love is powerful.

Group Poem Written by Victoria Education Centre Students

! 10!

Me

My eyes are bright like the sky My feelings change every night

I always stare and wonder who I am gonna be I love my life

I’m scared of the fright Yeah, I might be different in many ways

But at least I am me. I can’t change so you will have to get used to it.

People stare like I’m never there But at least l got my family near

I love me I love to sing and to watch Glee!

Yeah, you know who I am, I AM ME!

Written by: Charley Baker

! 11!

Salad Cream on Toast

I normally think about my disability in a bad way But it’s just a fence that you need to climb over

Into Richard Branson’s hotel on the moon. To become a famous basketball player,

Or a gymnast, or an actor Or simply drive a car…

To do a wheelchair long jump And perform in Ibiza and all over the world

On an eternal adventure With Evil Kanevil, Bart Simpson and Mr Bean.

To always look up and never look down On a never-ending water shoot on an uphill slide.

To be a writer or a director and create strange things Like a musical forest in a haunted castle

Or a magical electrical wheelchair. To make people realise

That disability is just a silhouette That disappears.

As the headlights of WHO WE ARE Shine through the mirage.

Now I see disability in a good way…

Written by: The ‘Poetry Sensations’

! 12!

A Head Like Mine

It’s hard for me with a head like mine It’s difficult trying to talk

People hurry me and don’t let me explain I feel lost and lonely inside my brain

I’m angry, I’m crying, I’m fighting inside

A deadly tiger, I have to hide If I unleash his teeth and claws and roar

He will tear and bite you all

Talk to me, be patient and calm Discover the golden monkey that lives in my belly

Release the bird that sings in my heart …

Written by: Lucy Willers

! 13!

The Real Me

I spend my life frustrated, it’s tiring being me I’m often confused and angry, but

People don’t always see The real me

People see the wheelchair as an

Ugly part of me But just look at me, I’m thin and pretty,

Something everyone wants to be?

Written by: Lucy Willers

! 14!

Fierce Pumpkins

Plump, podgy, prize-winning pumpkins In my plot

They are far too big for any plant pot Angry, like big fat men, puffed up, solid, grumpy and self-

important Selfish, spoilt

Cut them up and they explode! Phsssssssss

Written by: Jude Wardell-Knights

! 15!

My Brother and I

If I could take my brother anywhere I’d take him in to space to watch the stars shine, to nebula and super nova and distance planets

We’d travelled at light speed through the universe We’d fall back down to earth flying through the clouds,

above the trees, and above the sea We’d go back in time to see granddad and ourselves when we

were younger I’d take my brother to the jungles to see lions, tigers and snakes

We’d go to Mount Everest and be on top of the world And finally at the end of the day, after all the excitement,

We’d go back home and sit and talk

Written by: Ben for his brother Jamie, who is a student of Victoria Education Centre

! 16!

When We Rule the World

All prejudice shall be met with punishment and a persistent irritating buzzing noise

Everyone shall travel a mile in someone else’s wheelchair Dogs and cats will become compulsory, either real or imaginary,

and you must be seen to have one We shall banish auto tuning, airbrushing and all fakery in the Arts We shall banish guns and nuclear bombs and replace them with

nappy poo bombs and bogey grenades There shall be no steps!!!

There shall be more ramps!!! There shall be more listening, more patience! Acceptance of

stammering Everyone shall understand what it’s like to speak without their

mouths Hoverchairs, jetpacks, teleportations for all!

At the very least, cars that everyone can drive Tables go up!

Shelves come down! What an amazing time to be around

Emergency services sirens will be heard, give them the respect that they deserve

Creative swearing will be compulsory – but leave my Mother out of it.

Written by: The ‘Poetry Sensations’

! 17!

The Stubborn Red Door

I am a stubborn red door and this is my life I won’t be shoved, I won’t be smashed

I won’t be broken and I won’t be trashed I won’t be moved and I won’t be hurt

But I can certainly giggle and smirk Being stubborn is being simple

It’s not being mean, it’s being truthful. Oh how angry people get when I tell them they are wrong

Oh how angry people get as the pushing and pulling drags on What a laugh it is to see their faces go red with smoke

What a laugh it is to see them stumble on their words and choke Although I must admit I do go softer on the women then I do on

the blokes. I am a stubborn red door and this is my life

Unlike most doors I only have one side Unless you open me right that is

If you open me right, my handle will not rust If you open me right, my hinge will never hit the dust

If you open me right, my squeak will turn soft If you open me right, it’s as easy as eating chocolate

If you open me right, a house to have got And although I am stubborn, I’m just happy I’m something you’re

not.

Written by: Hugo Lucas-Rowe

! 18!

My shadow

If I was my own shadow I would follow me wherever I go.

If I was dancing I would be dancing too. If I was my own shadow

I would Be Alive too If I was my own shadow

I would follow me and hope my owner loved me too.

Written by: Alec Ross

! 19!

Spinal jacket

You are both my arch enemy and my ally When I put you on you always put up a fight

If I choose not to wear you I get the look of doom from others

You are both my arch enemy and my ally You disgust me and you make me sick

Ironically if I don’t wear you I end up sick!

You are both my arch enemy and my ally I understand I need you, but you need to know it doesn’t make

me want you Just remember..............

You are both my arch enemy and my ally.

Written by: Ray Hansford

! 20!

Insight

Through my eyes, I feel the frustration and disappointment that I cannot move in the same way as my friends, I become uncomfortable in myself wishing to adjust

Through my eyes, I can see the happiness I can bring to others, Through my eyes, nothing is impossible for me

I just have to believe it right now for real, Full of unanswered questions and doubt

that I cannot bring to the surface, Through my eyes, I almost can see the hatred and ungratefulness

in the mist of the hurting and brokenness of the world, Through my eyes, I can sense behind the blanket there is love and

affection when the poor becomes friends with the rich, Through my eyes, I have realised that I cannot change

the way I am today in a matter of minutes, I have to forget the past and start living for the future,

You and I are a miracle worthy to be alive.

Written by: Amy-Joy McNamara

! 21!

To be normal

Oh to be normal to be like everybody else, Will I ever be normal to meet society’s standards?

Will my chair ever be normal so that people don’t blink an eye when I go by,

Will the way I cough ever be normal so strangers say are you ok instead of running away,

If society says its not normal then maybe they are not normal either,

If we all try to be normal then it would become normal to be … unhappy,

AND THAT JUST WOULDN’T BE NORMAL WOULD IT?

Written by: Ray Hansford

! 22!

For the people who stare

Get to know the person you’re staring at What’s your problem? What’s your problem? Try to step in my shoes.

Don’t. It makes me feel scared It makes me feel sad

Everyone is different but judgement takes over I can’t do anything about it

People are always scared of what’s different You are disabled to me. I am disabled to you. We are both aliens

on this world.

I am crazy but I’m just me, don’t look at my wheelchair I am open like a magic door

I am pretty white teeth but yellow on the inside I am an actor, gifted with every emotion I am a titanium spine worth 000’s on Ebay

I am my own person I am a unique cloud, always different every day

I am Shaun the funny sheep I am a football Nickipedia

I am full of a thirst for knowledge. I want to see a change for the better

I am everything that I am, I can’t change. I wouldn’t change it for the world

Written by: the ‘Poetry Sensations’

! 23!

Disability for me

Disability for me is exciting It makes me do different things

That other people can’t do Being disabled makes me feel good about myself and proud

It sometimes makes me feel like i’m invisible That i can achieve anything

It sometimes makes me feel deep in thought I think ‘why am I not normal’

And if I was normal, it would change my whole life.

Written by: Jude Wardell-Knights

! 24!

Feeling

Felling is emotion Felling is a picture Feeling is a person

Feeling is a property But for me, feeling is nothing.

It may seem a strange thing to say, but both mentally and physically I cannot feel as much as you can.

Even as these words roll off my tongue there is no effort being pumped into these lungs

It is said that a broken bone for most is like a 50 ton weight dropped on your leg.

However for me a broken bone is no more than a kamikaze fly crash landing on my thigh.

Unfortunately myself and my body are immortal and mortal enemies.

No! No! No! I cannot take this pain anymore say the body. Guess what? Says I with a smile, pain cannot take much more of

you either! It may seem strange to think that a man can feel nothing but

each creation has its own special signature after all. What is touch like for me? Well it is simply just my hand stopping

when something gets in the way Nothing More, just a blockage, no feeling of rough, or smooth

Just a wall. Is it a happy feeling?

Well no because there is no feeling, just my eyes and my brain coming together to create an image, an idea, a’ feeling’ of what

I am touching. Drinking a mug of hot chocolate is as risky as sipping a pool of

larva! So instead, I just keep blowing…. Until there is no more steam.

Even as I stand here at this minute, I have no sensation of myself actually standing here.

! 25!

There is no feeling…. Of left, right, forward or below. Having no feeling is not a problem, or a gift, it is simply what

makes up me And without, this, you may not have heard me speak today.

Feeling for me is a picture. Feeling for me is almost air Feeling for me is invisible

Feeling for me …………….is not there.

Written by: Hugo Lucas-Rowe

! 26!

My Accident

Before my accident I could run

and jump about I could walk

and I could talk faster.

When it happened there were cars

and sirens everywhere.

Off to the hospital I went.

I

was in a

deep deep sleep.

When I woke

I was speechless.

The words just wouldn't come out.

I was pleased to see mum and dad

I was shocked and stunned.

I wanted to shout.

When I was allowed home I went by ambulance.

! 27!

It felt great to be home

but I knew I was different straight away.

People look at me differently.

I was in a chair. I thought

I was ugly.

Written by: Abi Smith

! 28!

Disability for me

Wheelchair, super, turbo, power Pretty white teeth, but yellow on the inside

Good black hair, but dirty and greasy Stammer, a catchy song will stop it…….

Glasses, x – ray vision Spread out arms, all the better to reach you with

Knee blocks and straps, shin pads and boots What’s in your back?

A titanium rod that’s worth thousands of pounds One day, I’ll sell it on ebay.

Written by: Kayleigh Wilcox,

Nick Simmons and John Hannant

! 29!

Katie’s I-Pad

I am slim and sleek The colour of silver Smooth and silky

Touch me and feel.

By day I stand tall Clamped to Katy’s chair

Moved and shuffled to her stare I have a huge memory

And a voice.

Turn me on and see I speak the words Katy types into me

I am her voice as loud as can be I work all day long

Tap, Tap, Tap.

My memory gets jammed When too much is rammed

Constantly on the go Katy keeps me busy That’s my purpose

My life fulfilled.

Written by: Katie Spurway

! 30!

SECTION 2

Paralympic Symbols Poems The poems featured in this section were written in the lead up to the London 2012 Paralympics and draw inspiration

from Paralympic symbols and media portrayals of Paralympic athletes.

! 31!

Hercules

Powerful, Big wheels. Hard fast

Ice cold cool Magical breathless golden.

Racing fun. Inspirational!

Think determined Think hard Think skiing

Think pogostick And Hercules arrives............ With blonde shades.........

And a packet of skittles....... He is magnificent.........

WOW!

Written by: The ‘Poetry Sensations’

! 32!

The Arrow

I am pointed I am curved

When I fly I make a noise So swift you can’t hear me.

When set on fire, I blaze like my courage roars And I fly even faster.

When stretched, I get ready to fire My end is a tigers tooth

My beginning is like a lion let loose. My life is like a flower, sweet, forever.

Written by: Hugo Lucas-Rowe

! 33!

The Horse

I’m wild, I’m free My beautiful brown body,

My long mane of purple hair, I neigh, I sniffle,

I feel the cold on my nose as I touch the cool grass, Chewing the blades,

Swaying, Cool pond,

Leaves rustling under my horse shoes, Rain coming down like clapping hooves,

I’m happy, free and wild.

Written by: Kayleigh Wilcox & Lucy Willers

! 34!

The Boat

Ship

Fog horn Parp! parp!

Fast Sway

Noisy, hot Base hits the waves.

Written by: Sean Trimm

! 35!

The Boat

Sail, Captain’s wheel,

Blue, Boom!

Small, old, slow motor. I am Mr Nobody,

On the lake, Staying still.

Written by: John Hannant

! 36!

The Boat

I am white, I am big,

I am made of metal, I growl,

I beep and honk at other boats, I drive through the ocean,

I carry lots of people, Sometimes I move side to side,

I am excited I am frightened when I drive because

I might press the wrong button!

Written by: George Roberts

! 37!

To Aspire

To win To run until my wheels fall off,

To fill the room with glory, To apologise for being too good,

Don’t waste your time by hating me, Just aspire to be better next time.

Written by: Ray Hansford

! 38!

The Wheelchair

Black leather,

Shiny red,

Turn me on and press my buttons,

Moving fast, wheels spinning,

Rising up and reclining,

Fast and furious like an Aston Martin,

Back and forward,

Left and right,

I am a proud wheelchair,

Click, click, click,

Recklessness,

Fast chariot,

Important, Priceless,

Essential.

Written by: Jude Wardell-Knights

! 39!

The Sword

I think I’m quite brave, Unlike my mechanical adversaries -

the guns and the canon, I mean, at least I’m actually on the front line,

I’m sick of being treated like a second class citizen, Can you believe some plonker actually said ‘the pen is mightier

than the sword’? I should have that person stabbed!!!

I’m long, shiny, elegant, Not to mention the ladies love me,

Although it’s a bit annoying, Getting my sharp end pushed through everyone’s bodies,

I’m starting to get a headache, All my victims cry: ‘Paracetamol’,

I think I need it more.

Written by: Jagdev Rathaur

! 40!

SECTION 3

The poems featured in this section explore the theme of ‘The Cliff Edge’, interpreted as overcoming fear, future aspirations and the transition from full-time compulsory

education to adulthood for young disabled people.

! 41!

Sky Dive

I like filling myself with fear I'm a daredevil

I don't let my disability get in the way of anything So there, I'm gonna win.

I'm gonna raise some money

I'm gonna raise loads of money for charity Masses, tonnes, millions and millions

Of wonga

I'm gonna do a sky dive In 2014

I'm gonna be brave and do it So there!

I'm scared, nervous

But I don't care I'm gonna do it

So there!

I'm gonna get an adrenaline rush It's gonna be amazing

The wind rushing round my body I'm gonna feel like an angel, falling through the air

Everyone's gonna be shocked They won't believe their eyes

I'm gonna do a sky dive So there!

Written by: Ebony Robinson

! 42!

The Shopping Mall

Going into a shop for the first time Was strange but very exciting

I had a strange look on my face My legs shook with nerves

Too many people Too many faces

What will they say? My wheelchair in a strange place

Will they look? Will they stare?

A small store. Where shall I go? Toys! Toys! That's what I'll go for I am excited; so much choice

Colours and noise confuse my brain I know what I want

Quick as I can, Impatient as I am I am out. Done!

Written by: John Hannant

! 43!

My Cooking Pot with Wings

My cooking pot is anxious, Shaking and bubbling away

Rising up to the brim Will it suddenly burst?

Explode? Flow over the cliff edge?

My thoughts are dark and dim.

Sitting on the plane On the way to Hamburg

Feeling very scared Looking at the passengers around me

Wondering if they cared

As we landed in Hamburg With a boom boom boom

My cooking pot became still and calm The relief for me was clear to see;

There was now no alarm

What was next was friends of mine Jason and Bidley

Waiting for me Meeting with the Volkswagen

I got on board with a little help from dad And really felt a man.

My journey now was over,

My cooking pot was still My life had changed so much.

For the better. I felt completely fulfilled.

Written by: Jude Wardell-Knights

! 44!

Taking on the World

Don’t decide for me, I can decide for myself What’s the point in ‘life skills’ if it’s not my life to live?!

When I take on the world,

I’m gonna work in Sainsbury’s, scanning sausages stacking sweets on shelves

No shelf is too high, if your wheelchair rises to kiss the sky.

I’m gonna be a casino croupier, cutting cards and counting cash, a robber taking your money back,

And though I need my beauty sleep, I can sleep all day.

Don’t decide for me, I can decide for myself

What’s the point in ‘life skills’ if it’s not my life to live?!

When I take on the world, I’m gonna be Boccia champion, bowling balls around the world, Practice, practice, practice and bowl the Paralympian right off

their perch.

I’m gonna care for animals, dogs and horses, rabbits too, Feed them, groom them, love them and even clean up their poo.

I’m gonna nurture children, giggle sing and cuddle, And if they scream and cry, I’ll given them a snuggle

Don’t decide for me, I can decide for myself

What’s the point in ‘life skills’ if it’s not my life to live?!

Written by: The ‘Poetry Geezers’

! 45!

Performance at the Albert Hall

I’ve been a trumpeter for 9 years And still all music makes my soul

Fill with energy Like a car zooming round at 100 miles per hour

But now I’m playing the Albert Hall!

A lifetime experience As the show gets closer and closer

More nerves fill the air What is the stage like?

Big? Small?

Will the audience like it at all?

The day soon arrives People everywhere Non-stop rehearsing

Constant stop-start, stop-start Thousands of empty seats

And just a few hours later... The place is full.

Written by: Harry Bassett

! 46!

Route 66

Route 66 How very much

I would love to travel down you On my Goldwing Trike

It is my dream to do this The wind in my hair The sun on my face

Oh I would be In a beautiful place

Just the sun in the sky Not a cloud to be seen

This is my dream.

Jude Wardell-Knights

! 47!

Poetry Express

Peep Peep, Puff Puff, Chuff Chuff, Clickity Clack All aboard the Poetry Express

Woo Woo, We’re leaving the station

Woo Woo, The ride of your life

Woo Woo, Like going on an aeroplane, with Micky Mouse the pilot

Woo Woo, We go through the deep dark dangerous tunnel

Woo Woo, It’s like a monster under the bed

But I know I am safe because I am on the brilliant and best Poetry Express

Woo Woo, Travelling kettle

Woo Woo, Steamy Funnel

Woo Woo, Dream Ride Woo Woo,

We are at the station Woo Woo,

Happy, helpful, hungry audience We all love going on the Poetry Express!

Written by: Philip Henderson

! 48!

Just Me

Some people think disability is a vegetable Sitting in the vegetable freezer box.

But I am not a vegetable. I am an actor at the West End, doing the thing that i love. Or and F1 driver, driving the Grand Prixs around the Globe.

A football player, playing in the premier league Or just on my play station, just chillin’ out. The truth is I can do anything that I want

It is you that is disabled I am not disabled

I am just me.

Written By: David Young

! 49!

My Dad

So much fun we had before. Playing games and watching sport

It was always nice to come home to you From a day at school, getting up to no good.

But one day you told me the news.

My heart shattered and my anger grew. I felt the pain of a bolt of lightning striking me

I couldn't believe you'd never be there for tea.

Time has moved on, and it is not so bad Now I see you at weekends And at weekends I’m glad

I always have fun with you, Dad.

Written By: Jordan Woodward

! 50!

My Dream Social Worker

Here comes the dream social worker Disco afro and Bart Simpson tie A funny nutter, a happy dude Goldfish in his platform shoes

Open the door and he says ' Hi'

My dream social worker, doesn’t know of any barriers My dream social worker, doesn’t ever stop at ‘No’

My dream social worker, he gets the job done My dream social worker, is jolly and fun

Here comes the dream social worker

With his instant funding and good advice He listens, he battles, he fights for you

Tries his hardest to make your dreams come true He brings you bling and jewellery- nice!

My dream social worker, doesn’t know of any barriers

My dream social worker, doesn’t ever stop at ‘No’ My dream social worker, he gets the job done

My dream social worker, is jolly and fun

Here comes the dream social worker Giving a voice to the seldom heard

Helps you live where you want to live Pushes the system to make it give

I wish he had the final word

My dream social worker, doesn’t know of any barriers My dream social worker, doesn’t ever stop at ‘No’

My dream social worker, he gets the job done My dream social worker, is jolly and fun

Written by: The ‘Poetry Sensations’

! 51!

OUR RIGHT! RAP

OUR RIGHT! OUR RIGHT!

OUR RIGHT TO CAUSE A MOVEMENT!

I can't get up on the stage The roadies have left wires like spaghetti

I feel frustrated like a mum preparing food

OUR RIGHT! OUR RIGHT!

OUR RIGHT TO CAUSE A MOVEMENT!

I can't move around the doctors’ waiting room The lifts too small for wheelchairs

These hospitals need electric doors! Like God creating a storm, I feel furious

OUR RIGHT! OUR RIGHT!

OUR RIGHT TO CAUSE A MOVEMENT!

I want drop curbs on both sides of the road I got halfway across

I could of got run over I feel angry like an erupting volcano

OUR RIGHT! OUR RIGHT!

OUR RIGHT TO CAUSE A MOVEMENT!

! 52!

Give us more disabled buses I want to go to Poole

but the thing is full of buggies I am mad, mad like a rough choppy sea

OUR RIGHT! OUR RIGHT!

OUR RIGHT TO CAUSE A MOVEMENT!

Give us the equipment we need Hoists and slings and changing benches

World, where's your disabled toilets? I feel explosive like a rumbly tum

OUR RIGHT! OUR RIGHT!

OUR RIGHT TO CAUSE A MOVEMENT!

Disabled parking for disabled people! Give us our space

Put them in a wheelchair for a day

OUR RIGHT! OUR RIGHT!

OUR RIGHT TO CAUSE A MOVEMENT!

Written by: The ‘Poetry Geezers’

! 53!

Don’t Stop Me Now

I’ve got my eyes on the cup, So don’t stop me now… Turn the signal to green, So don’t stop me now…

I’ve put my feet to the floor, So don’t stop me now…

Cut the red tape and open the door, So don’t stop

Don’t stop Me now,

Yeah.

I wanna dive in a cold swimming pool, on a lovely, cold, crisp night.

I wanna play Singstar on my PS3, singing badly like a girl in a red dress.

I wanna meet Johnny and go for a drink, because it would be nice.

I wanna party with my friends

I wanna have a big star, a beautiful shiny sparkling star I am going to have a big juicy fruity J2O, with a shiny colourful

straw. A big fat, filling pizza, with pepperoni, and meatballs, red

tomatoes and slippery, oozy cheese… Yum Yum Yum

I am going to invite Katy Perry and she will sing my favourite song ‘Roar’

Roar, roar like a lovely glorious tiger.

I’ve got my eyes on the cup, So don’t stop me now… Turn the signal to green, So don’t stop me now…

I’ve put my feet to the floor,

! 54!

So don’t stop me now… Cut the red tape and open the door,

So don’t stop Don’t stop Me now,

Yeah.

I wanna drive a red Aston Martin soft top across America in sunshine as yellow as a daffodil.

I wanna smoothly glide two miles over ice in my walker and feel free like my dad out for a run

I wanna run, jump and fall over a cliff into an ocean of squidgy mars bars

I wanna get my Personal, Social Development done I wanna grow huge angry pumpkins in my garden

I’ve got my eyes on the cup,

So don’t stop me now… Turn the signal to green, So don’t stop me now…

I’ve put my feet to the floor, So don’t stop me now…

Cut the red tape and open the door, So don’t stop

Don’t stop Me now,

Yeah.

I wanna work in dance school Teaching ballet to kids of all sizes

I wanna stand on my head Till my head goes red

I wanna walk tall and proud, leaving my wheelchair behind I wanna spicy curry for dinner, a hot naan bread too.

I wanna go to bed for cuddles with Mr Meerkat I wanna burn the demons in my head

! 55!

I wanna beat everyone at Boccia to bring me happy tears

I wanna plan a visit to Disneyland, to see Mickey Mouse and Baloo the Bear, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger,

I wanna get on a steam express train, on the Watercress Line, and ride off in the sun,

I wanna have Baked Beans all the time, for every lunch, I wanna play ‘knock knock’ jokes on Mum and Dad,

I wanna go to Beaulieu Motor Museum and get into Lady Penelope’s pink Rolls-Royce a.k.a. FAB1

I wanna tell Dad “Stop playing that song!” each time he puts on “Tie a Yellow Ribbon”

I wanna go to Cedar School and give Lauren a little cuddle, I wanna wear a new blue jacket, new blue jeans and new black

sneakers – NICE I wanna ‘look for the Bare Necessities…’

I wanna finish this poem.

I’ve got my eyes on the cup, So don’t stop me now… Turn the signal to green, So don’t stop me now…

I’ve put my feet to the floor, So don’t stop me now…

Cut the red tape and open the door, So don’t stop

Don’t stop Me now,

Yeah.

Written by: ‘The Poetry Geezers’, Charlie, Charles, Jude, Abi, Lucy & Phillip

! 56!

I Wanna...

I wanna work in a dance school Teaching ballet to kids of all sizes

I wanna have a korma because it’s my favourite dish,

it’s mild and creamy and it’s delish

I wanna stand on my head until my head goes red

I wanna recycle everything I can

I don’t wanna see any more trees cut down

I wanna see Olly Murs because he makes me happy Because he is a twin, just like me.

Written By: Abigail Punchard

! 57!

My Dance School

In my prance palace, you will hear A troupe of touring tap dancers, like ten drums, being beat fast

and furiously, Filling the studio with amazing sound.

In my prance palace, you will see

A posse of street dancers, spinning around on their legs and heads

Popping some moves to an upbeat tune

In my prance palace you will witness Smooth swans gliding gracefully, pointing toes, plié and pas de

deux.

Written by: Abigail Punchard

! 58!

Time to move on

A prison I felt pointless

Felt like my bones were being crushed Felt like the day would never end

Felt like I was being squashed into a sin bin, growling dogs trying to tear me apart

Rip my bones off, trying to find a bone that they could chew, and chew, and chew, and chew My bones are falling apart

They crumble.

Written By: Connor Ferris

! 59!

Moving Class

Good times, sometimes Bad times as well,

There can also be sad times Good times in my life.

Changing class is like moving house

Worrying because I knew I had to do good work I have made some good friends

But I was upset to say goodbye to my old class friends I miss them, I miss them all

I was sad But now I’m happy to meet class KB

Written by: Charlie Scott

! 60!

Moving House

I used to love my house in Kings It was never far from my friends

Or to go to school, where I had fun

Then one day we moved and so much changed I don't see those friends any more And I don't go to the same school We moved onto something new

A brand new school, and new friends too

I miss those friends like a mouse misses cheese But moving wasn't so bad A new adventure, please!

Written by: Charles McKechnie

! 61!

New Class

A bit nervous. A new class.

I'm going to be brave.

Do I talk to new people? I'm gonna do it, like a man.

I'm gonna feel confident about talking to new people.

I don't want to be here.

I want to be back in London. My friends looked after me so good.

They protected me. They never wanted me to get hurt. When am I gonna see them again?

This door is big. It's yellow.

A smallish window to see my new classroom.

A bit weird.

A bit strange. New faces I have never seen before.

Do I talk to the new people? I'm gonna do it, like a man.

I'm gonna feel confident about talking to the new people.

Written by: Tom

! 62!

School Lunch

I didn't move far…

But far enough to miss my friends Ashley and Emily.

Constantly thinking about food,

The taste, the smell. Excited to see what will be on

the lunch menu.

Crispy, spicy, golden chicken nuggets, Chips sandwiched between sticky tomato ketchup,

and gloopy mayonnaise.

Shock.

Sorry Ashley and Emily, I have to change school

And I will miss you.

Like not having ham in my salad, Like not having pepperoni on my pizza.

Written by: Joanne Sibley

! 63!

New Girlfriend

She was flirting with my in class Blowing kisses at me She looked beautiful Like roses or violets;

And I wanted to blow kisses back And I showed a picture of my family

And they said she looked good

Don’t steal my new girl!

Written by: Alec Ross

! 64!

My Microphone

It’s not a prop, it is my voice My electric ice cream

My power My thin best friend, black and silver

Glittering in the spotlight Confident, shimmering, mind blowing

The world stops, i’m someone else In another world just me and my music – thinking

M – me I – inside

C – courage R - reality

O – opportunity P – performance

H – honest O – overwhelming N – never ending

E- emotion A dream, a reality, my friend,

My opportunity

Written by: Lauren Taylor

! 65!

If my tongue could leave my body

If my tongue could leave my body It would find a groovy 70’s disco and do the worm

It would jump in a chicken and mushroom pie and make itself at home

It would frazzle in a Harvey Oswold Then surf on a rainbow landing in a pot of gold.

It would march into Cameron’s front office and scream in his face

ABOLISH TAXES! Then march straight back out and go to Buckingham Palace

Request a rendezvous with the Queen to demand a knighthood. It would take a helicopter ride to the Whitehouse and tell Obama

To invite all the billionaires..........so we could play monopoly.

Written by: Sean, John and George

! 66!

If my teeth could leave my body

If my teeth could leave my body, they would grind their way through the fields of the countryside

They would bite their way through all the hamburgers in the world They would munch their way up Everest and back They would bite their way through all living hate.

If my teeth could leave my body, they would munch their way through the ground

Until they found a mountain of treasure in the centre of the Earth, They would become the best fighters in the world.

If my body left my teeth, It would suck all the Ribena in the factories

It would suck on the ice cream until there was a pool of ice cream in your back garden.

It would scare all the haters and monsters in the world. My mouth would win a prize for the softest mouth in the world.

I would be choking all the time. I wouldn’t have to brush my teeth,

I would speak so strangely that no one could understand me, I would literally suck.

I would be the biggest clown in the school. I would literally be the biggest sucker in the world.

Written by: Hugo Lucas-Rowe

! 67!

If my heart could leave my body....

If my heart could leave my body It would be in Australia, sitting on a beach.

If my heart could leave my body It would find ice cream heaven. If my heart could leave my body It would sit at Chelsea for ever.

If my body could leave my heart It would fall and bleed in the sea.

Written by: David Young

! 68!

If My Brain Could Leave my Body

If my brain could leave my body, it would journey to the Solar System to discover what lies beyond the Earth,

If my brain could leave my body, it would scuba dive deep down under the ocean to study the crystals and pearls scattering

around the ocean floor, If my brain could leave my body, it would make a way into the

Earth to observe what was there beneath the ground, If my brain could leave my body, it would sky dive from an

aeroplane, no fear inside me, just adrenaline flowing all around me,

If my brain could leave my body, it would fly to a cloud and snuggle inside to sleep all day and star gaze all night.

If my body could leave my brain, it would run to the top of the

Statue of Liberty, If my body could leave my brain, it would sit on the left shoulder

of the Christ the Redeemer, in Rio de Janeiro, If my body could leave my brain, it would travel to Africa and

give hope to the needy, If my body could leave my brain, it would walk on the beach

leaving footprints in the sand, If my body could leave my brain, it would accept itself for who it

is.

Written by: Amy Joy McNamara

! 69!

If my heart/brain could leave my body…

If my brain could leave my body It would take all the worries out of my head

It would go into my social worker’s head And show them how difficult life can be.

If my heart could leave my body It would become Buzz Light Year

And stop the world from exploding It would dance at the disco

With the beautiful ladies on a Friday evening It would run away from the doctor

And burn all the worries out of my head.

If my heart could leave my body It would help my family to love.

If my brain could leave my body

It would get a perfect night’s sleep.

Written by ‘The Poetry Geezers’

!