Punk Site Poetry With Cherry B “You’re Not Disabled”

Cherry B is our punked up pumped up performance poet, who has been described as the The Punk Pam Ayers and The Cockney Cooper Clarke, she has returned with You’re Not Disabled, her latest exclusive poem for The Punk Site. Cherry B had this to say about the poem: “This is an absolute true story of my ablism experiences, where I am not determined disabled because I don’t have a stick! I have a chronic disability that can be invisible most of the time, for those that don’t know it’s long covid. Many of us have invisible disabilities that affect us in so many ways, so when we are seen queuing for a toilet that has a picture of a wheelchair on it, others judge us. I used a wheelchair a few days ago, when I stood up, someone commented ‘it’s a miracle’, there are still so many old fashioned stereotypes around disability. It makes me so angry, just leave people alone.”

You’re Not Disabled

Hit me with your walking stick,

Cut me down and make it swift,

Hit me with your biased view

And tell me I’m not disabled too.

We stand in line for the loo,

But you demand it’s only for you.

I’m not a stick carrying type,

My disabilities are just a hype.

I’m not as old, or infirm.

As the rules may determ.

Cos I can stand and often deliver.

I’m not a stereotype giver.

But underneath this body chronic

Lives a life that seems ironic. 

For I endeavour to endure

Pains fused all the more.

You only see me on the days.

That from my bed I finally raise.

Where daily tasks take energy,

And delete me from being Beverley.

I save my spirit for having fun,

Embrace the joy of having one.

For my life may have more limits

So I savour those valued minutes. 

I still toddle on in my high heels,

Smiling through the pain that kills.

I now attend gigs that are seated,

For I will not be defeated.

So please don’t be so quick to label. 

And assume that I’m fully able.

I may not be carrying a stick, 

If I did, I’d hit you quick. 

Author, writer, poet, psychotherapist, professional swearer, dyspraxic and opinionated, words that define and illuminate qualities that feature within the personality of Cherry B. Straddling the Shakespearean themes of comedy and tragedy, teasing with laughter, then taunting those undesirables in society. One half of the unique Cherry & Peesh, who have embellished the punk ‘n folk scene with melodical tales and catchy tunes for the almost a decade. The duo released their latest album, Bigot’s Banquet, last year and Cherry B is also collating a new volume of poetry and a novel, Back To Square One, for publishing later this year. Cherry & Peesh will be playing Sound of the Suburbs record shop in London on February 24th and the duo will also be appearing at 0161 Festival, Bearded Theory Festival & Rebellion Festival.

Cherry B‘s debut collection of poetry and lyrics, Job Lot Of Rhymes, is available via Flapjack Press. Job Lot Of Rhymes spans three decades of Cherry B’s performance work. Political, societal and inclusive, it is uncompromising and passionate punk ’n roll poetics firing from the belly of social conscience. Cherry B also appears on her monthly radio show on Louder Than War Radio, Poetry Is The New Rock ’N Roll, that offers an hour of lyric led, spoken versed, genre smashing, musical adventure into the exploration of hidden poetry, that is often camouflaged behind powerful rhythms and riffs.