Car, Body
How do I feel about my body
Muscles are tighter
More spasms, more spastic
Take more time doing simple things
Used to be able to put on my jeans
in 1...2...3 minutes
Now it takes me
8...9...10 minutes
To get a pair of jeans on
My back is very irritating
Nerves, you have some nerve to be playing games with my spine
The itching, the burning increase every day
Cut my spine, fused with metal
Some nerve damage
Knees, knees, can you please help me to stand
The pain
Sometimes I feel like a hypochondriac
Is it really just in my mind
Muscles are always fighting brain
Hey right arm, why are you tightening up while I put you in my sleeve?
Hey fingers, why can’t you relax?
Upset that I can’t bear weight on my legs
A pre-step to walking
How much more spastic I am becoming
My hamstrings are tough as calamari
I’m sitting more and not using the joints down there
Getting an annoying cramp
Comes from a lack of stretching
I sit in this chair 11...12...13 hours a day
My body like a pressure cooker
I get out my chair and it’s like somebody releases the pressure
Sometimes all that itching and that nerve pain compiles with the spasticity and makes my spine burn
Like a car exhaust overheating
Body slowing down
Body, car, car, body
15...16...17, even 18 years in
Body, car, car, body starts falling apart
Transmission, engine, mileage piling up,
Body, car, car, body breaking down
Driving down the road, running out of gas
Taking the car to a body shop or mechanic, just like getting surgery
Comparing chop shops and donating body parts
When you have rods you have to be careful with your movement
Slouching down could potentially affect all the metal work done
A long time ago the doctor said be careful how you move
A sudden jerk and a screw could come loose
One accident could mangle your chassis
Puncture my engine, my heart
No matter what body, car, car, body
Always finishes, finishes strong
Until we become repurposed
My body like a vessel of hope
Story still not over
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tad415
Tyrese Alleyne-Davis is currently a graduating senior at the Henry Viscardi School in Long Island, New York. Born prematurely at 23 weeks, he suffers from triplegic Cerebral Palsy which affects his left-side, both legs, and requires him to use a wheelchair. For the past 10 years, he has been a public speaker - giving keynote addresses for many children's organizations such as the Starlight Children's Foundation, S.K.I.P. of New York, New Alternatives for Children and IncludeNYC. Earlier this year, he had the distinct pleasure of addressing legislators in Albany, NY advocating for 4201 State Funded Schools. Additionally, Tyrese has had the opportunity to address the Black Law Student Association at Harvard Law School and speak at Columbia University’s Disability Caucus. Last summer, Tyrese was one of twenty high school students chosen out of 500 applicants to intern at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office. Academically, Tyrese has soared, being inducted into the National Juniors Honor Society and receiving multiple college scholarships from CACNY, The Options Center and the Henry Viscardi School. In the Fall, he will be attending NYU on a full scholarship and intends to study communications and sociology. Tyrese has dreams of becoming an advocacy lawyer, concentrating on elevating the rights of the disabled community.
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