Spoken Word Poetry: Wheelchair = Freedom? | Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome | Disability

Wheelchair = Freedom? I resisted the wheelchair but then things took a turn and there I was, I was in trouble. I share more about this battle of mine – this battle with disability and the wheelchair (because of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) in this new spoken-word poetry of mine.

As I post this, it’s May – which also happens to be Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness Month.

So, if you would like to watch this video, then you can right here on my YouTube channel:

If you would like to read it, then you can here:

Wheelchair = Freedom?

“heel, side, toes
one foot in front of the other
that’s how it goes

heel, side, toes
one foot in front of the other
that’s how it goes

stronger strides, straight back
moving forward
no slack

stronger strides, straight back
moving forward
no slack

O’ no, wait!
that’s not me
that’s the person
I used to be

And now, here I was
Unable to stand
Unable to believe
I was stuck.
Unable to see
That I needed
To be fair,
To me.
That I needed
A wheelchair
To be free

Wheelchair = freedom?!
Doesn’t sound right!
It felt like a trap
Strapped in tight.
I pleaded my case,
Yet I knew,
I’m losing
My legs,
And this case too.

My chariot arrived
My resistance grew
But to prove a point
I tried to be cute
I stood…and fell
And looked so foolish
not because
I was on the floor
But because I resisted
And tried to be mulish.

Why?

Because

My mum
at 66
Became my
Heartbroken
Charioteer.
She now
Developed
stronger strides,
A straight back
moved forward
no slack

A tear rolled down
But her strength grew
She pushed
With more
Purpose
Just as mothers do.

I felt her pain
But her will too.
I was ready
For this challenge
“I’ll make it through!”

I understood
The wheelchair
Didn’t confine me.
It’s my thoughts
That I needed
To review.
I understood
The wheelchair
Gave me freedom
To rest
To heal
To undo.”

(Written on: 31 March, 2023)

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If you resonate, or wish to share your own experience with disability, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or anything that you connect with here, then do drop in your comments, your thoughts in the comments sections below.

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I have a podcast too. You can check them out here along with their transcripts or if you don’t wanna read them then they’re available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts too.