Author The Old Vic
Published 04/07/2022
This year, students from Linden Lodge School in South London took part in Schools Club. Students from the Minerva group at the school wrote two poems that we’re sharing this week as part of Disability Pride Month.
A message from the students:
We worked with the Schools Club this year. We are a school for the visually impaired and many of us are also hearing impaired or autistic too. We loved the things we did with the Schools Club and they helped us learn more about theatre and workshops. We decided to write a dramatic poem because we love poetry and we love drama.
We wanted to show how everyone falls in love and it is so great. It doesn’t matter who you are and who you love. Love is love. It is the special thing that shows us that we are all amazing. We need to celebrate all love and remember we all have the right to love. We all have different challenges and maybe it is easier for people to see some of our challenges, but everyone has them and we all have the right to love.
Love is the rainbow. See or feel it. It’s fantastic! Love is love!
Love
There you are love!
I can feel you.
That feeling of meeting a new person and falling,
So interesting,
Extreme happiness.
You’re that warm feeling,
Deep in my heart.
You’re overwhelming
You arrive with the special connection.
And wow!
You’re so beautiful.
The gateway to learning,
About ourselves,
And everything else.
And there are no barriers.
Love is love.
You’re a rainbow.
Nothing can stop you shining.
You’ll just shine where you want to.
We have to follow.
We find you where we find you,
Just so lucky when you appear.
I suddenly hear a voice –
I might not be able to see you –
But I know you’re here.
So, follow the heat.
Trace the way,
Can’t stay.
The right thing to do.
Shine on,
We stretch out our hands,
To follow you.
I might not see you,
But I know you.
You shine on us,
And we know the truth.
We’re all perfect.
We’re all complete.
Just all different.
Different bodies,
Different hearts.
You call,
Follow me!
Come to the dream!
You make us realise,
That we’re all the same.
No inequality.
We are the rainbow.
Love is love!
Voices (A Response to Faces by Kae Tempest)
Your voice, your voice,
The faces I don’t see.
Your voice, your voice,
It’s the voice that means a lot to me.
When I hear your voice,
I always know you’re there,
Your familiar presence
Enveloping me in a bubble of warm air.
Your voice it carries me to safety,
It flows,
Filling every crevice with happiness.
Your voice, your voice
The faces I don’t see,
Your voice, your voice
It’s the voice that means a lot to me.
The voice is our internal picture,
Use it wisely.
It creates an imperfect image,
Our perception of you.
From intonation to intention
We create our impression.
Your voice, your voice,
The faces I don’t see.
Your voice, your voice,
It’s the voice that means a lot to me.