Friday, October 09, 2009

United Cerebral Palsy

Yesterday was my first day (this year) teaching poetry at UCP. We studied Joe Brainard's 'I Remember' and wrote our own remembrances. Here are some of the most startling lines:

I remember when I was a child.
I remember my mother used to carry me and walk to the stairs up and down.

I remember my mom cry because I was stubborn.

I remember the days that I could see.
I remember in the early days when I could walk.

I remember when I used to walk with crutches.
I remember learning Arabic.

The most disturbing lesson I learned yesterday was about how the medical system taught people with cerebral palsy in the 1950's. One of my students who uses a wheelchair told me that she walked until she was 8 yrs. old. Then, she had surgery to 'help' her. She never walked again.

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Forthcoming!