What do you see when you look at me?

These poems were written after a group discussion about the labels and names that society gives to people with disability. It wasn't an easy or a nice discussion, but we had it and we made a list of words which we shared for our poems.

Then we talked about ourselves, about the things that made us... well, us! The unique wonderful creative people we know we are! Again we made a list of words which we shared.

We fitted the words into a framework, which is the same in each poem.
We think they're powerful, we hope you do to.


What do you see when you look at me?
Learning disabled, useless, thick in the head?
Peel back the label see me;
Short, bald, tidy, modest,
Artist, memory man, sports fan, big brother,
Uncle, computer buff,
sharp witted, hard working with a part time job,
I am Important see me.

What do you see when you look at me?
Stupid, thick, crazy, weird, ugly, autistic?
Peel back the label see me;
John parrot, Jimmy Johnstone and
Mathew Stevens are my favourites!
I'm an admirer of Kelly Holmes and Rachel Stevens,
a snooker fan, a joker, a music man.
I am important see me.

What do you see when you look at me?
Tall, fat, short sighted, dyscalcular?
Peel back the label see me;
Friendly, organised, compassionate,
Dog lover, guitarist, caring, genuine,
A little sister,
Lover of jelly babies,
Hater of Chicago!
I am important see me.

What do you see when you look at me?
Daft, crazy, loony, foolish, cheeky?
Peel back the label see me;
Tall, slim, tidy, funny, sharp,
Loving, hairy, kind, blond, big,
Hit me with your rhythm stick,
Upside down, looking out,
Lucky lips, nay chance, lucky devil!
I am important see me.