By Sally Edwards

Photography by Oliver Cole, via Unsplash 

I present to you in full colourful view,

all that I am, neither ugly nor glam,

With my miniature stature and peculiar shape

This is me.

 

Just like you my bones break too,

my skin gets battered and bruised.

Just open your eyes, you’ll be surprised

With all that you see,

Discovering;

Hi — this is me.

 

Imperfections, just like my love and affection

own a unique beauty, they’re not yours to abuse

I’m a daughter; a sister; a best friend,

and desire? I have that too.

This is me.

 

What gives you the right to wish me out of sight?  

my lips are alluring – what’s this pity to which you’re referring?

Take your patronising elsewhere,  

Or, if you continue to stare, offer a smile or a wave,

but don’t call me brave

After all

This is me

 

Mountains I’ve climbed to feel strong and alive

bumps in the road and clinging on to dear life

sometimes needing just to cry,

I’m learning to be strong.

I’m here today and I’m NOT going away

This is me

 

With more operations than I can remember

lasting pain oh so tender

my body, a masterpiece of scars,

doubts, fears and oceans of tears

I’ve bared all in this place,

set my stall, in this hall, with just one more thing to

say

travelled far…here we are…

This is me.

Sally Edwards

Sally Edwards began to write four years ago after retiring from a successful Inclusive Dance career. Sally realised there was a gap in the visibility of Disability/LGBT artists creating work within the arts and took this on personally by writing a story which was later published as a novel How To Love.  

Sally’s mission is to raise awareness of and encourage more Disabled LGBT artists to be more visible and enjoy a career in the Arts. Sally’s work has also appeared in DIVA, she’s also been interviewed on DIVA Radio and in June 2018 Sally received the DIVA annual award as their Community Champion, given to, ‘an individual whose outstanding work in promoting LGBT equality and inclusion serves as a positive example and inspiration to others’.

Sally has performed at various festivals and events such as Lfest,  DIVA Literary Festival, Isle of Wight Pride and Hampshire Pride (to name just a few). Sally has a new novel coming out this year which focuses on the recovery process of having an acquired disability – not just the physical side but also how an event such as this can affect your mental health and the mental health of those closest to you.