in – valid, a poem by Meg Torwl

posted on May 16th, 2010

Audio of in-valid by Meg Torwl, from a recording for RNZ, music by Eric Biddington

in – valid

pull your
own weight
stand alone
stand on
your own
two feet
four feet
six legs
six feet under
dig your toes in
keep a lid on it
under your hat
sit on it
sit tight
don’t just sit there
rise above it
get up
stand up for your rights
relax
take it easy
footloose
one foot in front of t’other
one step at a time
walk before you can run
look before you leap
for the high jump
take: a running jump
a flying leap
a hike
put your foot in it
can’t stand it
don’t take it
lying down
sleep on it
put it behind you
move on
walk away
turn the other cheek
a nods as good
as a wink
tunnel vision
blind
deaf
dumb
victim
sufferer
in-valid
bedridden
wheelchair bound
lame
get a grip
hold on
handle it
give me a hand
can’t stomach it
made my stomach turn
gutless
lily livered
got a gall
spineless
heartless
thoughtless
some nerve
brain dead
uncommunicative
non-responsive
life sucked out
coming up for air
gasping
give me some air
breathing space
stood in good stead
stood me up
just stood by
gawking
dribbling on
stand firm
stand tall
stand and deliver
money
or your
life

©  Meg Torwl Read the rest of this entry »

Poemsong for Liberation: free poetry workshop April 18, 2010

posted on March 3rd, 2010

Leroy MooreSins Invalid presents:
Poemsong for Liberation: A Poetry Workshop

Facilitated by Vanessa Huang and Leroy Moore
Sunday, April 18th, 2010, 3 – 6 pm
Brava Theater Center
2781 24th St. at York Street, San Francisco
Cost: Free

Poetry is not a luxury: “it is through poetry that we give name to those ideas which are – until the poem – nameless and formless, about to be birthed, but already felt” (Audre Lorde)

This workshop will invite participants to deepen our truth-telling practice in community, through poetry. We will explore and write poetry of necessity.

Read the rest of this entry »

Review of Sins Invalid 2009 (reprinted from Edana Conteras’ blog)

posted on March 1st, 2010

On October 3rd, I attended a performance of Sins Invalid at the Brava Theater. I first heard about the show in 2006 from various members of the disabled community. Everyone I discussed this performance with had praised and hailed it for a raw view of sexuality and disability, and I was eager to see what all the fuss was about. Read the rest of this entry »