I knew that something wasn’t right, whenever I wrote my own name wrong.
And though I tried with all my might, I wondered if I would ever belong
With the kids who could learn how to read and write,
Who wrote their words in black and white.
Whose minds never made the words twist and bend
Into images they cannot comprehend.
But that’s exactly what happens whenever I try
To process the words that I see through my eyes.
Letters twisting! Words bending! My mind starts to reel
From the mirrors, the reflections and the way that I feel!
I remember how quickly my smile would melt
When the teacher would ask me to read to the class.
That sickening way my stomach felt,
When I swallowed my pride and asked “Can I please pass...
To the kids who could learn how to read and write
Who read the words in black and white
Whose minds never made the words twist and bend
Into images they cannot comprehend.
But that’s exactly what happens whenever I try
To process the words that I see through my eyes.
Letters twisting! Words bending! My mind starts to reel
From the mirrors, the reflections and the way that I feel!
Imagine not fittin’ where anything is written!
Imagine your need, if you thought you had no way to read
Labels, warnings, signs in the morning,
Letters, postcards, the mail,
Instructions, directions or good book selections
You’d try but the meaning would fail!
Imagine, instead, a reason for why the words dance in your head.
Imagine discovering today,
How to read and to write in your own unique way...
They told me that I wasn’t bright
Whenever I wrote my own name wrong...
I Wrote My Own Name Wrong
1993 Jerry Mills
Boom Zing Music
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