Shame On Me

Dr. T. Pinnock 1962 (Hartford, Ct)



This week I have been drowning in my own Trials and tribulations.
Looking at my own Suffering and persecution.  
Feeling Disgraced because I was disbarred and ignored.
Staying in my room this week bathing in my depression.
Shame on Me!

Today I forced myself to listen to the Martin Luther King, Jr., "I have a dream" speech. I substituted the word "Negros" for "People With Disabilities or PWDs." His words on August 28, 1963 ring true today for PWDs.

King spoke of going to prison. I call this Being in a prison of the mind. PWDs have been taught to put us in a prison more restrictive than a real prison. The prison of "We Can't."

Today PWDs are locked in Chains of discrimination.

Today PWDs are gripped in the Stigma of poverty.

Today PWDs are tied in Segregation and isolation.

Today PWDs are forced to endure the judge and politician's Disability Injustice.

Today PWDs are denied freedom and independence.

Today PWDs are denied inclusion.

Today PWDs are disheartened by the Fatigue of travel.

Today PWDs are forced to live in segregated housing.

Today PWDs suffer from Job and money discrimination.

Today PWDs are Swimming in hopelessness and despair.

Today PWDs must cope with Unequal treatment.
 
Today PWDs are Judged by medical conditions, not by abilities.

Today PWDs have Low self-love and image.

King talked about the 1864 document that freed the Negros as a Promissory Note. In 1963 King said this Promissory Note was a bad check.

Well, starting in 1973 and continuing to 2007, most countries and the UN promised PWDs civil rights - promissory notes. As of today, the notes are bad checks for most PWDs but not me.

For the most part, I had good checks so I should not be swimming in my own despair. I should be empowering PWDs to cash their civil rights checks and be free and equal at last!

February 28,  2015
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Submitted by dr_pinnock on July 20, 2021

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:38 min read
13

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABXBC A X B C B X X B X X B X X X X X C X C
Characters 1,858
Words 327
Stanzas 20
Stanza Lengths 5, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1

Dr. T. Pinnock

Dr. Pinnock first wrote poetry in the institution he resided in inside a classroom at 8 years old. The typewriter was old and manual with a keyguard. A keyguard is a device with an opening for each key to prevent a person lacking fine motor skills from accidentally hitting a key. Dr. Pinnock was granted permission to use the class alone. He labored there typing for hours ignoring his cerebral palsy. Dr. Pinnock grew up with his family until August of 1970. Poverty forced his parents to make him a ward of the State of Connecticut. more…

All Dr. T. Pinnock poems | Dr. T. Pinnock Books

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