Living at Coler

While I’m at Coler living in this forsaken Nursing Home
And feeling fucking isolated on this island

With its beautiful view of water, trees, birds and the sky that’s blue
Watching the traffic of boats, cars and planes as my life goes bye

With its history that’s so dark and full of gloom
Decades of segregating the people of Society that are the unwanted

Now the island is claiming deaths from this virus
As it adds to the pain and social despair to this place

As I’m trying to keep my last bit of hope...
Trying not to spiral into depression

While fighting a battle just to get out of Coler
and than having to try to survive while being here inside

Wondering if there is going to be a day of freedom
or If I’m ever going make it to see the outside

Shannon Nelson

The newest member to OPEN DOORS Reality Poets, Shannon Nelson is 49 years old, and was a dental assistant before the accident that left her paralyzed. She’s been a quadriplegic for 25 years, and identifies as a wheelchair warrior, disability rights advocate, social justice activist and animal lover. Shannon once escaped from a nursing home in Maine and arrived in New York seeking freedom, and lived in South America for a year while escaping homelessness in the United States.

https://www.opendoorsnyc.org/blogs/realitypoets-shannon
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