You look
But you don't see me.
You see a crutch.
A bald head.
A scar.
A disease.
An object of pity.
You don't see the person.
The determination.
The fear.
The vitality.
The passion for living.
The capacity for love.
Open your eyes
And look without prejudice.
Look beyond my leg.
Look beyond my illness.
Look into my world.
See the many pieces,
not just one.
A complete person.
Open your eyes
And see me.

Joan Fleitas, Ed.D., R.N.
Associate Professor of Nursing, Lehman College, CUNY
Bronx, New York 10468
 

 Last updated: November 14, 2004