Easy

yes, it's hard,
a struggle,
a real bummer to
what could've been.
broken pieces,
shattered dreams, but
it's me,
the way I am.

how to say it

yes, it's tempestuous,
emotions rolling,
days, years,
corridors dark,
it's pain,
it's scars.

how to speak it

it's my space,
it's a day to day,
it's walking frames,
calipers, crutches,
wheelchairs,
gophers.
It's a story,
a life,
a journey.

but .......

it's what I know,
strangely
a comfort
in knowing a day,
a protection of
this space,
a familiarity
of what is.
to push away
what could've been, but
a life still.

family, friends
pushing me forward
gently,
day by day

yes it's a bugger, but
disability,
there's a sound,
a language,
its own rhythm,
its own song,
beautiful patterns of
little victories,
every day the same, but
different.

there's a pride,
there's a peace,
there's a strength,
there's a way, a
different way, but
my way.
a different view
a different understanding
of life

I am who I am,
easy, it's what I think,
what I feel.

easy in knowing,
easy in understanding,
easy in accepting,
a contentment in
what is

it's alleyways,
laneways, not
highways,
freeways, but
a different view,
a slower pace.

easy, but somehow
a peace,
a known quantity.
easy, a day by day,
days embracing
getting me through.

r.m. 2025

Reviews

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

Hi Richard
I like your poem it shows strength in your disability
We’re you born with it or was it from an accident

I had two disabled friends. Unfortunately they passed away in last three years. One year apart from each other both in wheel chairs. She was my dear work friend colleague she married him.
How’s the rain in Sydney it’s pouring
Here
Anyway good write bearing your soul like that

[Richard M]

Hi Julie
Thank you for reading 'Easy' and for your comments. Yes, I was born with my disability, a Cerebral Aneurysm, clipped off now and not a consideration, I just have a paralysis of my right side. I just think of the individual person and don't mean to trivialise their plight (as I am one of them myself), but feel that we need to take responsibility for our disability and our situation. We are suppotted by the government, which is wonderful, but feel we need to identify with our circumstances and dig deep to find Us. I hope you understand.

I'm in Cowra and we're desperate for rain.

Good to 'talk.'
Take care my friend
Richard

[Emunah June.]

So I am not disabled by any stretch of the imagination (unless you count ADHD and anxiety I am trying to medicate), but I have had illness and injury that left me disabled for a period. I got a stretch of pneumonia a few years back that made it very difficult to walk, and it took me about a week to get strong enough to do so. In just that time, I felt exactly like this poem describes: frustrated with myself, but so happy with my family and friends that helped me learn.

That being said, reading this from a completely abled perspective gives me a type of beautiful insight into something I will never fully understand. It is hard for me to find any way to relate to this poem because of this fact (and even the pneumonia is nothing compared to people who live like that permanently) but thats not a BAD thing. You have a prose and cadence to the poem that brings the reader through ebbs and flow of frustration and understanding, irritation and knowing, and the ability to find joy in circumstances one may not necessarily desire. It gives autonomy in such a beautfiul way, and wraps it together to make such a wonderful read.

I am always impressed with your poetry, but this was such a nice way to start my morning. Always a wonderful pleasure! (And I hope this review is coherent and you understand what I am trying to say, I worked a 16 hour shift last night and I am on another one as I type this so I am very tired!)

[Richard M]

Thank you for reading Emunah