I’m not like the others, I have just one eye

and sometimes this oddity makes me cry. 

One nose, one mouth, one tail all good

yet it’s a bother to not look like I should.

It’s not that I turn my head like an owl

and struggle some on the stairs.

It’s not cause I sometimes bump into walls

 and skid on bare floors that I care.

I don’t mind that my left side is not like my right

and that having one eye really changes my sight.

But I cry deep inside when a little child gasps

points a finger right at me and laughs and laughs.

I’m different, I know, but so are we all

some of us short, others real tall.

I see kids with glasses when I go for my walk

saw one in a wheelchair who couldn’t talk.

A boy caught a fish right from the pier 

his mom told my human that her son can’t hear.

Blond hair, black hair, brown and red

we’re the same on the inside my human has said.

We all have feelings, we can all be smart

we can all find a way to act from our heart.

Yes, it’s odd I know having only one eye

you’ve got odd stuff, too, but I won’t make you cry.

Instead, I’ll accept you just as you be 

not being perfect works for me.

I like who I am, can hold my head proud

have good stuff to offer like barking real loud.

So let’s not laugh when we don’t understand

let’s not hurt feelings, but offer a hand.  

Yikes! I have just one eye, but that isn’t all bad

it has taught me not to make others sad.

Carole Marshall

Port Townsend