I shared this poem at One Shot Poetry Wednesday where you, too, may get your poetic groove on.
Yesterday we sliced a moment of
Space for his hand
to slip into mine
softer, smaller,
a part of me
I offered to the
world that some
label "not quite
right" and I label
holy, my son
my blood, my
frustration, my
challenge and not
mine, his sole project
his soul project
My deepest unspent
cries are borne in
not knowing how
to help him
feel better
about who
he
is
Poetic Postscript: Samuel, my nine-year-old son who lives along the autistic spectrum, has been having an exceptionally difficult time at school lately. After making it for the first half of the year in a mainstream fourth grade classroom, he has been crashing behaviorally. In the past I had a difficult time writing poetry about Samuel vis-a-vis his "being uniquely atypical" and now, since he has been struggling, my words have been flowing. Yesterday, a school holiday, we took a spontaneous road trip to Los Angeles to the Museum of Natural History where we enjoyed the displays and Samuel got to live out a long-held dream of his, riding on a "bending" bus, the likes of which are never seen in smaller-town Bakersfield.
The simple sweetness of his hand slipping into my mind took my breath away and said much of what he is having trouble putting into words.
Follow me on Twitter: @JulieJordanScot
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smiles. i work withan autistic boy...and some days i feel the same...but i just keep telling him how special he is...this touched a place deep in me thank you...
Posted by: brian | February 22, 2011 at 02:57 PM
What a heartfelt write Julie..I have a niece in this spectrum also and it has been hard on her parents too....this is wonderful poem filled emotion...bkm
Posted by: bkmackenzie | February 22, 2011 at 04:48 PM
You and your son have touched my heart and I will remember.
Posted by: Joann | February 22, 2011 at 07:34 PM
Dear Julie
I enjoyed it so much from the beginning itself... your words caught me with its imagery..
'Yesterday we sliced a moment of
Space for his hand
to slip into mine'
...and then the verse took over.. I could feel it all the way till the end...
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/02/whispers-tanka-and-search-for-being.html
Connect with me at Twitter @VerseEveryDay
Posted by: Shashi | February 23, 2011 at 03:28 AM
his sole project
his soul project...that did it for me
our greatest gifts can burden us
we are rewarded for our efforts
Peace, hp
Posted by: hpicasso | February 23, 2011 at 08:03 AM
This is a wonderful piece, so heart-felt and honest. Just beautiful, Julie!
Posted by: Eric 'Bubba' Alder | February 23, 2011 at 09:02 AM
Julie, I admire you and the love and care you give your son. Autism is such a bewildering syndrome and I do believe these special children are given to us to grow in our own spirits. As a nurse I've studied about but never cared for autistic children...worked more at the other end of the life cycle with many persons with dementia. And learned so much. Still more to learn. God bless you and your family.
Posted by: Victoria | February 23, 2011 at 08:23 PM
This was not just a moving piece, Julie.. it was a piece straight out of your heart...
And it touched mine too..
You have a pearl in the oyster..and how well can I see you treasuring it!
Lots of hugs to you, my friend..
Posted by: Kavita | February 24, 2011 at 01:20 AM