I crawled
across the
sanguine soaked
battlefield
of life
born legless
languishing below the
line of sight
to all except the
narrowly scoped
sniper's rifle
♿
Muscle fibers
snap under
neigh unbearable
weight
sharp debris
embedded
in tenderized palms
and knees
♿
Grappling with ghosts
gaining no traction
sinking in the sands of
desperation and dissatisfaction
never giving out
until help arrived
even if
a day late
♿
Beached, washed up
on the shores of
safety’s bay
all those waiting
could muster
force from
fully inflated lungs
to say-
♿
How did you make it
no assistance or legs?
turn back folks
nothing to see
false alarm
go right on about your day
♿
Go, be warm
Hide your
bloated appearance
obviously wasteful
and overfed
an overblown Icarus
with the power to sculpt
waxen wings
♿
No screams of fear or
prideful laughs escape the
yellowed gap
between my teeth
♿
Why not do it
again and again
no choice but to
rebuild and crash
as many times as it takes?
K.B. Silver
Accommodations aren’t a crutch; for those in need, they are the only way to reasonably accomplish a task and function in society.
Of course, simply becoming aware that disabled people exist or need accommodation isn’t the same as actually allowing for accommodations in the workplace and at home. In my experience, employers are extremely hostile to making these legally required allowances.
The idea that anyone is self-reliant is simply untrue (with a few extreme exceptions). Some people just get to feel more self-sufficient than others. Driving yourself to a store doesn’t mean you grew the food, paved the road, built the car, the store, or the home you bring it all back to. Stairs are accommodations for the walking, ramps are there for those in wheelchairs. Lights are accommodations for the sighted, and braille guides are there for the blind. Chairs are left lying around all over the place for the physically sound, while some with disabilities might bring one with them.
We live in an interconnected worldwide society. Most people already enjoy a world built for them, and extending small courtesies to make sure everyone can access the basics isn’t extra; it’s the bare minimum.
About the Creator
K.B. Silver
K.B. Silver has poems published in magazine Wishbone Words, and lit journals: Sheepshead Review, New Note Poetry, Twisted Vine, Avant Appa[achia, Plants and Poetry, recordings in Stanza Cannon, and pieces in Wingless Dreamer anthologies.
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More stories from K.B. Silver and writers in Poets and other communities.
CH 20~ Party Down
Argento’s ninth (eighteenth in earth years) Birthday came and went Thursday, the thirteenth, and he’d already received his father’s gift, if you could call it that. You had to commit a fairly serious infraction to be cut off; the Arch-Baron was keeping up appearances and maintaining his own reputation as much as any sense of love or attachment to Argento with his “gift.”
By K.B. Silver Exclusive • 2 days ago
Bruce Lee and The God of War: Kuan Ti
It starts with love.. The Power to the God Of War and Wealth Walk into a Chinese restaurant (even in Oklahoma, USA), a Chinese police station, a kung fu martial arts studio or even a Chinese temple and you often see a red faced warrior holding a heavy quan-do (spear like weapon).
By WILD WAYNE : The Dragon King4 days ago in Chapters
Comments (2)
A focus poem like only you can write. And your Author's Note? Needs to be blown up to maximum font and waved around on a flag every day. Effective K.B. That's so vital.
bare minimum is so lacking...thank you for writing this!