As I listened to jaz
I felt a pang
As a young woman sang,
For I thought on the last time
I heard the jaz
In this place, with you,
So wrote a rhyme
As it was all I could do.
Jaz
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Category Archives: musings
The Dos And Donts of Interacting with a Blind or Visually Impaired Person
People come to my blog either because they like my poetry, or due to a post on a subject of interest to them catching their attention. Most of those clicking on this site are unaware of the fact that I am registered blind (unless they click on my “About page and see a photograph of me with my guide dog, Trigger, or they come across one of the few posts in which I talk about my visual impairment).
Not being aware of my blindness means that my readers interact with me as they would with anyone else (which is, of course as it should be for I am not defined by my visual impairment). However, when I meet people in the real (off-line world) I do come across individuals who are unsure how to interact with a visually impaired person, indeed some people are downright embarrassed.
A few days back, I came across this excellent post on “Life of a Blind Girl”, https://lifeofablindgirl.com/2019/06/02/the-dos-and-donts-when-interacting-with-a-blind-or-visually-impaired-person/, in which the author talks about the dos and donts of interacting with someone who is blind or visually impaired. In essence, as the author states, one should interact with a blind or visually impaired person in the same way in which one would interact with anyone else.
However (as the blogger points out) many people do not follow this simple rule. Examples of the behaviour identified by the author (and experienced by myself) include: speaking to the non-visually impaired companion of the blind person rather than addressing the visually impaired person directly, asking personal questions one would not address to a non-disabled person and being afraid of using commonly utilised language such as “see you later”.
In terms of the latter, I have lost count of the number of occasions on which someone has said “see you around” only to apologise to me for using visual language!
As someone who is blind, I use such language all the time and I don’t expect people to avoid utilising it when interacting with me. In fact by employing such language people demonstrate that they regard me (and other blind/visually impaired people) as individuals who are not defined by our disability.
There are too many self-appointed spokesmen who claim to speak on behalf of the visually impaired (and, I would add other groups), who say that one should not employ such and such language. Many of these people are well meaning (but wrong) while a few do, perhaps wish to use disability politics for their own unholy ends.
I commend this article to anyone who has ever felt unsure (or embarrassed) as regards interacting with a visually impaired or blind person.
Kevin
How Convenient To Have A Graveyard So Close To My Home
How convenient to have a graveyard
So close to my home.
‘Twill not be hard
As, when I die
There will not be far to go
For my bones
But, you know
The place has remained undisturbed
By burials for many a year.
I am perturbed
And shed a tear
As I do not know
Where I shall go
When I die.
Perhaps my ashes will, in a pub find a place
And the drinker, with his or her flushed face
Will look at me and say,
“He used to drink this way.
Another beer
Here barman, for I feel suddenly queer
And must drink
Else I shall think
On dust
And he, who has into the grave been thrust!”.
I dislike
The idea of fire
And my desire
Is for burial. Yet the night
Will come down all the same
So why should I care
Whether I am consumed by flame
Or end up underground?
For the truth profound
Is that I will not be there
To know or care.
When Men Reach The Stars
When men
Reach the stars
And girls lose their bras
At the click of a mouse.
And men
Can be
Whatever they wish to be
In the virtual house,
I wonder will we
Be happy
Or free.
They Say That 2 Is Company
They say
That 2 is company
While 3
Is a crowd.
A few are loud
And will with honesty proclaim
(Without fear of shame)
That they
Like 3.
But I beg thee
Do not ask me
To explain
For I may
Lie, or simply not say . . .
tottering on stilettos
Tottering on stilettos
Girls from ghettos
(And a few middle-class
Girls too) pass
Through lonely doors, and sing a song
That will be around so long
As mankind
Requires? desires?
More than food for his mind.
Did cavemen win
Young women to sin
With fine polished stone?
I own
I do not know
Though I suspect it was so.
And still girls go
Through lonely doors
And are labelled, hoars
A Transhumanist Heard A Clock Tick
A Transhumanist heard a clock tick
And said “time I shall lick”.
And the clock said, “progress,
Regress, progress, regress”,
As the hands did trace
The clock’s round face
From beginning to beginning,
Forever spinning:
“Progress, regress, progress, regress . . .”.
And the Transhumanist said,
Nought, for he was long since dead.
When A Socialist Named Lee
When a Socialist named Lee
Said “I believe in equality!”,
A Conservative called Dave
Said, “only in the grave
Will you find equality!”.
Poet Kevin Morris is now on Instagram
I am pleased to announce that I am now on Instagram. To visit me on Instagram please click here. My thanks to Shanelle for taking the pictures.
Poet K Morris interviewed by Ann Harrison-Barnes for the Inspirational Journeys podcast
At 6 pm on Tuesday 28 May, I was privileged to be interviewed by Ann Harrison-Barnes.
As part of my interview, Ann kindly prepared the below post, which links to the podcast.
My thanks to Ann for her kindness in interviewing me.
Kevin
—
INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEYS PRESENTS!
Kevin Morris!
Hello:
I’m proud to announce the following guest for your listening pleasure.
Please be sure to read onward after the following message to learn how you can be my guest here on INSPIRATIONAL JOURNEYS.
Thanks for listening and do write to let me and my guest know what you thought of this presentation.
WHO?
Kevin Morris
WHEN?
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
WHERE?
https://anchor.fm/inspirational-journeys/episodes/Special-Guest-Interview-with-Kevin-Morris-e45vf1
MORE ABOUT GUEST AUTHOR KEVIN MORRIS
Kevin Morris was born in Liverpool England on January 6, 1969. He attended The Royal School for the Blind and St. Vincent’s School for the Blind in Liverpool, and went on to read History and Politics at the University College of Swansea.
After graduating with a BA (Joint Honours), and an MA in Political Theory, Kevin moved to London where he currently lives and works. Much of his poetry is written in his home, overlooking an historic park in Upper Norwood/Crystal Palace, a suburb of Greater London.
The Writer’s Pen and Other Poems
Book Description:
A collection of 44 poems encompassing the passing of the years, nature, mans place in the world and politics.
Purchase link:
https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Pen-Other-Poems-ebook/dp/B07GD1LBMV
Connect with Kevin at the following links:
Website:
https://kmorrispoet.com/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/drewdog2060_
Goodreads author page:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6879063.K_Morris
BE A GUEST…
As authors, creative artists and entrepreneurs, we often find it hard to stand out above the constant chatter on the internet. If that sounds like you, I’d like to help you boost the visibility of your brand.
My name is Ann Harrison-Barnes and I run a podcast called Inspirational Journeys. On my podcast I post solo episodes of value to my listeners, led by the Holy Spirit. I also talk to authors, creative artists and entrepreneurs who want to share their inspirational journeys with the world. If you’re interested in being a guest on my show, please send an email to annwrites75@gmail.com or fill out the form found at:
https://annwritesinspiration.com/contact.
Please be sure to leave Inspirational Journeys in the subject line of your email or in your comment on my contact form so that I can send you my interview framework.
If you’re launching a book, please let me know and I’ll send you my featured book questionnaire. I ask that you do this, so I can feature your book in the show notes blog post associated with the podcast
Thanks for listening to Inspirational Journeys and have a Blessed Day.
Podcast cover art photo provided by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash:
https://unsplash.com/@nathananderson
