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January 20, 2003
A Letter to Martin
Dear Dr. King,
Please forgive the informality of the title, dear sir,
But I feel as though I know you.
You of course do not know me
I was but six when your life was through.
Though we never had the chance to meet
Your views and beliefs have served as a beacon in my life.
You see, I have a disability
And as a result our lives have been marked by similar strife.
My brothers, sisters and I
Are engaged in a struggle for our civil rights.
Treated so often with fear, contempt and ignorance
The kind that fill our bed with tears some nights
We carry on your work and your struggle.
You see, crutches and wheelchairs or any such contraption
Are often the first things people see
Just like the color of your skin
How we long, as you poetically did
To be judged by the content of our character
And not by some exterior or implement.
How we long to be judged instead by our abilities, our dreams or other factors.
We dream of a freedom, a freedom not from the
Physicality beyond our control
But a release, a release from the confines
Of the pity and condescension that crushes
our soul
I must admit Martin that I often get weary.
So weary that I want to lay my head down.
Down on a pillow made soft by an angel’s touch.
But I know I cannot, as I look around
I realize so much work remains to be done.
Work for social justice, human rights and medical care.
Work to end hunger, poverty, discrimination
And other ills that too many in our society share.
So now I must stop writing and go back to work.
But I did want to thank you on the anniversary of your birth.
Thank you for the lessons you taught so long ago.
Lessons on the value of human worth.
Martin, I do have one question I would like to pose,
And I do saw in awe.
When you looked over the mountain-top
Was it a ramp or more stairs that you saw?
- John E. Winske
This poem is dedicated to the memories of Paul Winske and Tiffany (Cespedes) Park. Advocates who felt the touch of the angels’ pillow much too early.
John Winske is a Partner in DRS Consulting, and is the former Executive Director of the Massachusetts Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities (MCCD). His editorials and writings can be found at DisabilityRights.com.
