Heavy duty gimps in the Handicapped Section tonight

By Cheryl Marie Wade

Heavy duty gimps in the Handicapped Section tonight. We're the drooling, spasing, claw-handed brand except for one joker leg in a cast who claims disability for a better view. Wrapped in rainbows I sit thrumming pigeon-boned fingers over tire grooves a man to my left army fatigued slams stubbed thighs against chrome and a spike-haired kid three wheelchairs down no older than twelve waves a skull-and-crossbones-flagged crutch and wails Mistah Jones like she was there when it was written. Gimps Heavy Duty We perch above the crowd kinetic art

About this poem

Performed in Celebrating the Body Electric (1994).

We’re not sure of this poem’s title. Wade left it untitled, so it is known here by its first line. We haven’t yet found a published version of this poem. If you know its title, or where it was published, please get in touch.