A pox on resilience, that siren's song,
Echoing through stone-deaf towers, so wrong.
Ableist anthem, a cacophonous roar,
Demanding disabled bodies soar.
Barriers bloom like noxious weeds,
Choking paths, stifling needs.
A pox on resilience, that cruel demand,
In a world not built by disabled hands.
Tick, tock, time's relentless march,
Drip, drop, hope's dwindling arch.
Society's gears grind and groan,
Leaving the disabled to fight alone.
A pox on resilience, that serpent's hiss,
"Your failure is yours, your success dismissed."
Three-headed hydra of expectation grows:
Overcome, inspire, or be labeled as foes.
Lazy welfare cheat or inspiration porn,
No middle ground for the differently born.
A pox on resilience, that constant refrain,
A poisoned chalice, a Sisyphean strain.
Senses dulled by endless fight,
Touch of cold steel, dimming sight.
Taste of disdain, scent of doors slammed shut,
Opportunities endlessly cut.
A pox on resilience, that ableist lie,
While the privileged preen and society turns a blind eye.
Disabled limbs and minds persist,
Through a world that shouldn't exist.
Resilience demanded, resilience required,
Bodies and spirits endlessly tired.
A pox on resilience, that unfair load,
On an already treacherous road.
Tick, tock, the struggle never ends,
Drip, drop, as society pretends.
A pox on resilience, that burden misplaced,
On shoulders with systemic barriers laced.
So let resilience wither and fade,
A concept on which injustice is made.
A pox on resilience, let it die,
And watch as equity starts to fly.
Let justice bloom, let barriers fall,
A world redesigned for one and all.
No more resilience, no more strain,
No more bearing undue pain.
A pox on resilience, that flawed ideal,
As we forge a world where all can heal.
Author's Notes/Comments:
Introduction to "A Pox on Resilience"
My new poem emerges from a profound reservoir of personal experience, professional understanding, and heartfelt conversations within the disability community. As a teacher and mentor, I have always been motivated by what I lacked as a neurodivergent and multiply disabled individual. I continuously and deeply experience the influence of the intricate interplay between societal expectations and the daily hurdles faced by individuals with disabilities. This poem was further influenced, or somewhat reignited, by recent, thought-provoking insights from Erin Michelle Kay and John Delmenico, who passionately critique the media's portrayal of disability and scrutinise the troubling elements of resilience narratives.
Kay's post on LinkedIn and Delmenico's article in The Shot expose the hidden ableism that often lurks behind well-intentioned but misguided views of disability. Their forceful critiques of "inspiration porn," the infantilisation of disabled individuals, and the excessive emphasis on personal resilience resonate powerfully with my own experiences and that of friends, acquaintances, colleagues, as well as many past and present clients.
This poem strives to transform these frustrations and critiques into a compelling artistic statement. It boldly challenges the pervasive idea that disabled individuals must constantly demonstrate resilience despite systemic barriers, advocating for a heartfelt reevaluation of societal structures to prioritise accessibility and inclusion. Through its verses, the poem aspires to convey the fatigue, anger, and sparks of hope that characterise the relentless struggle for disability rights and representation worldwide.
Of course, I was also just really angry and frustrated with it all, and I needed a release. I have also been essentially bedridden and incapacitated for the past nine days due to a massive flare-up of my canal paresis, amongst other co-morbidities. Partially due to being burnt out and the stress of everyday life, you may start understanding why, quite literally, everything I do comes at a significant cost - not just financial. Of course, if you have been following my work here for any length of time, you will see a lot of repeated themes
