Like A Package On a Shelf
--
They want to
Place fancy labels
On her like
A package on a shelf
As if disability is a
Dirty word,
Something to be
Ashamed of
Spit out in
Disdain.
It is just
Another word
To be cancelled
In a culture
Of canceling.
There are things
She does differently
That’s true
And things that
She can no longer do
But cancelling words
Doesn’t stop the pain
The hate
We have to learn
What not to do.
Disability is not
Something to make
Others feel ashamed
To make them feel broken
Unless you frame the word
In that way
And she knows that.
And she’s not some
Character with a
Magical ability
Shes a person
Of flesh and bone
Who lives and loves
Laughs and cries
Not so different than
I.
She doesn’t want
To be labeled
Like some fancy package
On a shelf,
How about just
Call her by
Her name instead.
© Michelle R Kidwell
Wed.March.10.2021
