Self Advocacy Association of New York State

Poems of self-advocacy and self-determination


Speaking Up for Ourselves
2001 September 11
Dora Becker

I remember Pearl Harbor
How many of our young men and women
Died off the coast.
At that time, I was much younger
That was in 1942
It was a terrible experience.
We were watching a football game on a Dupont television
This happened in the West Coast
New York is three thousand miles away.
Everybody said it can't happen on USA soil
But it happened sixty years later.
September 11 the phone started ringing
Every TV was on couldn't believe our eyes
They say two jets crashed into the World Trade Center.
I was there after the crash
I interviewed a lady that was there
She didn't have to tell me how terrifying it was.
I take my hat and everything else off
To the large amount of people who perish in this awful tragedy.
New York will come back.
It may take a while
But we will be back!

An Attack Against America
Timothy Elliot

A day like no other that anyone can remember
An attack against America on the 11th day of September
Terrorism has hit us hard in our own homeland
An attack against America, and everything for which she stands
A plot to leave this country with a look of one massive grave
An attach against America, land of the free, home of the brave
Buildings were destroyed, thousands have died.
An attack against America, they destroyed our buildings, but not our pride
To recover from such devastation, who knows how long it may take
An attack against America, our hearts may be broken, but our spirit will never break
Now a more united America strands strong, proud and defiant
The only success they've accomplished is awakening an angry sleeping giant

Take your wings and fly
by Wendy Orzel

Life is wonderful life is free life is what you make it to be
that's the general sentiment into today's world
that anyone can be anything
but with a disability is this so

We all want to live, work and be a neighbor
without the added baggage caused by the ramp
or the cane that guides people
through the mud, rain or snow

It's your inner beauty within thee
the world is filled with opportunity for you to see
so don't let your disability affect your ability too succeed

Today you have to lead to make life better
for those who follow
you have the power
to make today's dream a reality for tomorrow

One must have courage to make it through life's journey
don't be afraid if your wings start to bend
courage is not a matter of doing right or wrong
and will take to the journey end

Sometimes we wonder when will we be able to fly
keep reaching for the sky and when you feel ready
then you take your wings and fly

You must not forget no matter what happens in a persons life
just always remember you're not alone
because at the end there will be
someone there who cares.

The day after today
Dora Becker

The day after today
The sun is out
It looks like it's going to be a good day
What happened yesterday should not have happened
I don't think we will have a day like yesterday
So many people died
We will never know the correct number
I didn't know them personally
But then I'm not one person I
know a lot of people
It shouldn't have happened
Today is Wednesday
A lot of people did not come to the center
I came from across the street to the center
I felt I had to get out of my apartment

 
SANYS, Self-Advocacy Association of NYS, Inc.