More Poetry...

So, Savannah said that I can post more of her poems as long as I post mine too. So, again for Poetry Month, here is one of mine:

The Gift

This night,
the full moon breaks forth from the deep darkness.
And the world is bright as day,
yet still and quiet,
safe and hidden in the black of the night.
The stars are clearly seen.
Their luminous pattern sprinkles the sky,
telling a story about the origin of the earth,
or simply telling my story.

A wide ribbon of white gracefully dances through
the bold light of the moon and the gentle light of the stars,
tying the splendor seen as if a bow on a package.
The sky above beckons to  me.
I am excited as a child.

Do I dare to open the gift before me?
Do I dare to see what God has in store?
Do I dare to see God?
Not only in the glorious beauty above,
Not only in the sacred silence of this night.
But in the hearts of those around me?
In the many stories of every life,
More stunning than the multitude of the stars.

Autism Awareness

I recently saw the following  post on Face Book from Autism with a Side of  Fries: "April is Autism Awareness Month.  Or as I like to call it, every single day in this house."  My immediate reaction was, "been there, really done that." I knew exactly what she was talking about.  Autism awareness has filled every day of my life experience for almost 20 years. First, it was working through each day trying to be aware of what my son was thinking and why he was behaving the way he was.   I believe that I was his interpreter for a very long time.  When he did not have the words to say what he was thinking or feeling, I needed to figure it out in order to help him through.  I think that I became very good at that interpreting.  All along I wanted him to understand what the "real" world was expecting, while still trying to let him be himself.  And so, all the blue signs popping up calling for "Autism Awareness"  led me to start thinking about what this awareness really should involve.
Over the years, I have come to think of autism less and less as a disability.   I have grown to accept, and even appreciate it as a different way of thinking.  While my son has difficulties with social interactions, anxiety and rigid thinking, these issues are far outweighed by his positive attributes.  My son is a wonderful listener.  He does not have all of the attachments to things and the expectations of others that keep most of us from being truly present to our lives.  He is always honest.  The "rule boy" in him means that he respects the rules of life.  He respects others.  He is accepting and genuine.  There is no pretense whatsoever about him. He knows how to be quiet and he appreciates solitude.  He does not expect people to be anything other than who they truly are.  He has a different way of thinking all right.  But, I have started to wonder if the world would not be a much better place if we all engaged in this different way of thinking.   And here in lies the crux of what autism awareness has come to mean to me.
My son has taught me to look for and understand and embrace the differences that each one of us has.  For a very long time now, I have never been in a store and wondered why the parents of a child in meltdown could not better control him.  It has been a long time since I have wondered with a critical eye why a person was dressed in an unusual way or engaged in a quirky behavior.  He has taught me that words are much less important than actions and that I do indeed use far too many words.  He has taught me that in silence, true awareness begins and this makes real presence possible. Our entire journey with autism has been one of awareness.  The kind of awareness that leads to appreciation, respect, love and admiration for the differences and beauty that each person brings to the world through their own "different way of thinking."  

April is National Poetry Month

Savannah has informed me that April is National Poetry month.  She and one of her friends have decided to write a poem each day for the month of April.  She also has me writing some poems.  I am delighted to see that Savannah is turning out to be an extremely talented writer.  Her recent short stories have been amazing and I simply love her poetry.  So, to celebrate poetry and creativity, here is one of Savannah's poems:

Wondrous Creativity

Create what cannot be created
Do not let anything stop you
Feel what cannot be felt
Before it is too late

Take a memory
So dear and fine
And paint that picture
In your mind

Live it, learn it, feel it, sweet
Allow reality and creativity
To kindly meet
Let the sparks fly

Twist it, turn it, mold it, fly
To what can't be seen by natural sight
Don't let gravity stop your hand
That writes the image in the sand

Do not fear
The strength of creativity
It is is not harmful
It shows you how

There are lessons to be learned
And only you know them
So let them go softly
In the form of rich art.

Just beautiful Savannah!!!  More poems to come this month!!