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A poem about dyspraxia

Writer's picture: Rachel Zirkin DudaRachel Zirkin Duda

I am constantly grappling with shame-based messages my brain keeps throwing up at me, so I decided to fuel my upset into poetry. I read this at an open mic last night, and I'm hoping I was able to educate some people on what dyspraxia is. (BTW, all of the verses are Haiku.)


Dyspraxia

This poem is an

apology to myself

for years of self-hate.


Dyspraxia is

an invisible illness

that makes you clumsy.


Let me give you some

examples of what I mean,

so you understand


When I trip over

air and run into the wall,

That’s dyspraxia.


When I reach for my

drink but, "Oops!" knock it over

That’s dyspraxia.


When I try to eat

Bread but inhale crumbs instead

That’s dyspraxia.


When remnants of lunch

Become part of my sweater.

That’s dyspraxia.


Keep dropping my keys

On the same ingrown toenail!

That’s dyspraxia.


When I awkwardly

speak garbled words that aren't clear

That’s dyspraxia.


How I manage to

Put shirts on backwards - both ways(!)

That’s dyspraxia.


When I look at a

map, my poor brain goes kaboom.

That’s dyspraxia.


When I step on a

crack I might break my own back.

That’s dyspraxia.


Before I learn new

skills I need to weigh the risks.

That’s dyspraxia.


I must preplan my

route through a room full of stuff.

That’s dyspraxia.


What seems easy to

you is more daunting for me.

That’s dyspraxia.


"You look so normal!

You must be making it up."

That’s dyspraxia.


"Why can’t you learn this?

You’re not trying hard enough!"

That’s dyspraxia.


"Don’t make excuses."

"Just get out of your own way!"

That’s dyspraxia.


Feeling a shame so

deep you want to disappear.

That’s dyspraxia.


When you wish you could

Be anyone else but you.

That’s dyspraxia.


Dyspraxia is

A disconnection between

The brain and body.


Communication

may break down, but that doesn't

mean that I'm broken.


- by Rachel Zirkin Duda © 2025



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