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February 9, 2019

Familiar?

An excerpt from Alice, a fun book about an un-fun situation.  Cheap on Amazon:


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Paul Vienneau and the Carpenter


‘The sun was shining on the decks,
Shining with all her might:
She did her very best to make
The patio level and bright
And this was odd, because it was
Behind a set of steps

Paul Vienneau and a Carpenter
Were wheeling ‘neath the lamps;
They wept like anything to see
Such paucity of ramps
“If this were only better planned,”
 They said, “we’d be access champs!”

“If seven men with seven drills
Worked for fifty nights,
Do you suppose,” Paul Vienneau said,
“That they could get it right?”
“I doubt it,” said the Carpenter,
That’s certainly our plight.

 “O Council, come and wheel with us!”
 Paul Vienneau did beseech.
“A pleasant wheel, a pleasant talk,
A chance for us to teach
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each.”

The CAO looked at him.
But never a word he said:
The CAO winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head—
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave his comfy bed..

But four young councilors hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat—
And this was no surprise , because, you know,
They seldom left their seat.

Four other Councilors followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more—
All hopping through the dirty path,
And scrambling to the fore.

Paul Vienneau and the Carpenter
Wheeled on a mile or so,
And then they rested by a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Councilors stood
And waited in a row.

“The time has come,” Paul Vienneau said,
“To talk of many things:
Of ramps—and doors—and steepest slopes—
Of washrooms and commodes—
And why the curb cuts are so bad—
And whither building codes.”

“Just wait a sec,” the Councilors cried,
“Before we have our chat;
Grandfather rules the access game
and with business we side!”
“We know it well!” said the Carpenter.
"There is no thanks for that."

“To wash my hands,” Paul Vienneau said,
“Is what I chiefly need:
Some privacy besides
Is very good indeed—
Now if you’re ready Councilors dear,
Our views begin to heed.”

“It’s not on us!” the Councilors cried,
Turning a little blue,
“After our hard work, that would be
A dismal thing to do!”
“I rest my case ,” Paul Vienneau said
“You haven’t got a clue!”

“It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!”
The Carpenter said nothing but
“The washroom’s full of mice:
I wish you were not so obtuse—
I’ve had to ask you twice!”

“It seems a shame,” Paul Vienneau said,
“To play them such a trick,
After we’ve brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!”
The Carpenter said nothing but
“These people are so thick!”

“I weep for you,” Paul Vienneau said.
“I deeply sympathize.”
But really now, we pay our tax
And it’s agreed we get little back
Few jobs, not much respect,
Lip service, we surmise.

“O Councilors,” said the Carpenter.
“You’ve had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?”
 But answer came there none—
And that was scarcely odd, because
They’d been outvoted, every one

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