Disabled artist and poet, DK, who co-founded the organisation AccessAbility Arts, shares his latest poem More Than You See. This evocative poem explores the lived experience of navigating England in a wheelchair, celebrating accessibility, resilience, and inclusion through vivid imagery and a powerful affirmation of independence and identity.
More Than You See
From my wheels,
I see the world differently than most,
The architecture of exclusion,
The gentle slope of a properly designed ramp,
The freedom in accessible spaces.
My chair is not confinement,
But extension of self,
Carrying me through days,
Both ordinary and extraordinary.
I navigate English streets,
Where cobblestones challenge,
And smooth pavements welcome,
Some doors remain closed,
Others open with the press of a button.
The sky stretches above
The same for all who look up,
A reminder that some experiences transcend the physical.
My perspective is unique,
Not lesser,
My journey different,
Not diminished.
In the rhythm of wheels turning,
There is music,
There is motion,
There is life,
Unfolding at its own pace.
Adventures await me still,
Soaring high on the London Eye,
Sailing uncharted waters,
Feeling the rush of adaptive snow sports.
The world opens gradually,
With each accessible attraction,
Each inclusive experience,
Each community that sees me,
Not my chair.
This is my England,
A landscape of possibilities,
Still unfolding.
You can find out more about DK by visiting his website DK4Poetry and following him on Instagram.