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Dear Legged People MAG

June 22, 2014
By AleMarquez PLATINUM, Monterrey, Other
More by this author
AleMarquez PLATINUM, Monterrey, Other
37 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
If we call something impossible, we act in such a way that we make it so.

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Dear legged people,
Why do I make you uncomfortable?
Why is it that you look for a way to understand me,
to be with me,
like I’m some kind of equation
that doesn’t seem quite right?

Dear legged people,
I don’t know if you realize this,
but your stares burn through my skin.
They cling to my insides and sizzle,
slowly making bitter what was once
sweet and forgiving.

Dear legged people,
The fact that I’m only as tall
as a five-year-old
doesn’t mean you have to speak to me like one.

Dear legged people,
When did “disability”
and “disabled”
become the same thing?

Dear legged girls who wish they had a thigh gap,
If I had your legs
I would flap those babies together
with every step.

Dear legged people,
Yes, I have a job.
Being alone in a wheelchair is not a novelty.
I am not a novelty.

Dear legged guy who told me I inspire you,
I don’t quite understand what you mean.
You’re inspired by the fact that I’m having coffee?

Dear legged people,
Has society come to a place where so little
is expected from wheelchaired people?

Dear legged people,
I am not here to inspire you.

Dear legged people,
I am more disabled by a society
that sells disability like handouts
to make you feel better about your lives
than by my body.

Dear legged people,
Quit expanding the differences
between me and you.
Our lives are not as different as they seem.
I should know.
I was once
one of you.

© Sara M., Milford, CT

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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 12 comments.

WriteFreak BRONZE said...
on Aug. 13 2017 at 4:16 pm
WriteFreak BRONZE, London, Other
3 articles 0 photos 24 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Everybody lies." - Hugh Laurie, House MD.

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This is incredible. It truly shows how stupid our society is, and how much we don't understand.
AleMarquez PLATINUM said...
on Jul. 27 2014 at 1:40 pm
AleMarquez PLATINUM, Monterrey, Other
37 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
If we call something impossible, we act in such a way that we make it so.

View profile
Thank you Elysium!!! That means a lot, I'm glad you like it! And I know, although people's intentions are good, oversympathizing is very annoying. But the more people aware of it, the more they begin to treat people with any differences, like what they are: normal. 
nithyaswaminathan BRONZE said...
on Jul. 27 2014 at 2:14 am
nithyaswaminathan BRONZE, Pleasanton, California
2 articles 0 photos 59 comments
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This is honestly the best poem I have read on teen ink. Wow, society is idiotic, we tend to oversympathize with people who are different in any way to a point where they seem like aliens...it's annoying. This poem is so sassy i love it so much
AleMarquez PLATINUM said...
on Jun. 30 2014 at 12:12 am
AleMarquez PLATINUM, Monterrey, Other
37 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
If we call something impossible, we act in such a way that we make it so.

View profile
Thank you for the comment! I checked out some of your poems, and I've got to say you're an incredible writer!! 
AleMarquez PLATINUM said...
on Jun. 29 2014 at 11:21 pm
AleMarquez PLATINUM, Monterrey, Other
37 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
If we call something impossible, we act in such a way that we make it so.

View profile
Thank you for taking the time to read it!
AleMarquez PLATINUM said...
on Jun. 29 2014 at 11:20 pm
AleMarquez PLATINUM, Monterrey, Other
37 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
If we call something impossible, we act in such a way that we make it so.

View profile
Thank you so much, I'm honored :)
TravelerenRoute GOLD said...
on Jun. 29 2014 at 9:21 pm
TravelerenRoute GOLD, Ribera, New Mexico
13 articles 1 photo 65 comments

Favorite Quote:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.<br /> Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.<br /> <br /> It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.<br /> We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,<br /> gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?<br /> <br /> Actually, who are you not to be?<br /> You are a child of God.<br /> <br /> Your playing small does not serve the world.<br /> There is nothing enlightened about shrinking<br /> so that other people won&#039;t feel insecure around you.<br /> We are all meant to shine, as children do.<br /> <br /> We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.<br /> It is not just in some; it is in everyone.<br /> <br /> And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give<br /> other people permission to do the same.<br /> As we are liberated from our fear,<br /> our presence automatically liberates others.&quot;<br /> Marianne Williamson

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Wow. This is very inspiring. It was captivating.
Mckay ELITE said...
on Jun. 29 2014 at 6:13 pm
Mckay ELITE, Somewhere, Virginia
146 articles 0 photos 2230 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.&quot;<br /> &mdash;Apple&rsquo;s &ldquo;Think Different&rdquo; commercial, 1997<br /> &ldquo;Crazy people are considered mad by the rest of the society only because their intelligence isn&#039;t understood.&rdquo; <br /> ― Weihui Zhou

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Captivating as well as thought-provoking. Society does have a tendency to be over "sympathetic" with things it doesn't understand: people with disabilities, people of different race, se.xual orientation, etc. I enjoy the candidness: it's furnished with brash somewhat-cynical sass. Well done. Congrats on the Editors' Choice. 
Bella13 SILVER said...
on Jun. 29 2014 at 12:49 pm
Bella13 SILVER, Los Angeles, California
5 articles 0 photos 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Wit is educated insolence&quot;

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Wow! I don't know how you thought of this poem... But I added it to my favorites and it's totally five star worthy! Keep up the work!! :D
HudaZav SILVER said...
on Jun. 29 2014 at 12:26 pm
HudaZav SILVER, Toronto, Other
8 articles 6 photos 390 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Nothing is impossible; the word itself says &#039;I&#039;m possible&#039;!&quot; -Audrey Hepburn

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This is honestly such a beautiful and inspirational poem! I cant describe how thankful I am that you wrote about this topic. Very well done! 
AleMarquez PLATINUM said...
on Jun. 28 2014 at 6:59 pm
AleMarquez PLATINUM, Monterrey, Other
37 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
If we call something impossible, we act in such a way that we make it so.

View profile
Thank you so much ChrisJ, this means a lot! I read some of your poems also: my favorite ones are Feast and Heartless. Great job!!
ChrisJ PLATINUM said...
on Jun. 28 2014 at 2:47 pm
ChrisJ PLATINUM, Rochester, New York
24 articles 15 photos 289 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.&rdquo;<br /> - Martin Luther King Jr.

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This is a fantastic poem. I love how your questions remain unflinching in nature, meant to provoke thought without sugar coding the ignorance of society. Job well done, definitely 5/5 from me!