I Remember

 

I remember that day like it was yesterday 
The sights, the sounds, the taunts, the jeers 
The laughs that seemed like they would last years. 

"Why?" I wondered 
"Why was it me?" 
You did this to me just because I was in a wheelchair 
What had I done to deserve this? 
I didn't know why 
But the laughter of my own classmates 
just made me want to die. 

I can stand tall, I can be strong 
But not when the discrimination lasts that long. 
For why we cannot respect all disabled people I do not see 
It just leaves me wondering,"  Why?  Why people like me?" 

Why must I wonder, why must I cry? 
The way you have treated me just makes me want to die. 
Why? 

If you don't want to respect me, that's fine 
For I know that I have a mind 
And that I am special in my own way 
Because no matter how I have to live out each day, 
I do it. 


 
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Joan Fleitas, Ed.D., R.N.
Associate Professor of Nursing, Fairfield University 
Fairfield, Connecticut 06430

Last updated: March 17, 2001