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Poems and other contributions from our members

and other such stuff-feel free to send me contributions to this page, which can include anything from pictures to poems to personal editorials or experiences that you wish to share with other families with ASD. Send contributions to lindalaveck@yahoo.com

~*~

I Am

I am not a lonely person
I show a lot of respect
I help many people
I sleep a very long sleep
I dream of a perfect world
I rain down peace
I save the world from harm
I stop to smell the flowers
I remember those in need
I ask others how they are
I expect a lot of great things
I mean no harm to people
I promise to be a good person
I am not a lonely person

By Chris Rolfes

~*~

I Am Your Child

I am your child
Living on the Autistic Spectrum.
I am not stupid or insane.
I am just confused in a world that
makes no sense to me.

I am often overwhelmed
By what I see, hear, smell, touch and taste.
I have a low tolerance for change
But I live in an ever-changing world.

So I may retreat into my own little world
Where things don't change
and confuse me.

Some people think I don't have feelings.
I have feelings, but I have trouble controlling them.
Some people think I don't care about friendships
But I really need friends who understand me.

Some people think I have a great memory
For detailed facts and figures.
But I have no "memories" of feeling happy or sad
Though haunted by "memories" of feeling angry or afraid.

You are my parent.
Please be my guide.

I need you to help me make sense of the world
When my senses are overwhelmed by the world.
I need to learn that by gazing into your eyes
You teach me the world can be understood.

I need you to show that it's safe for me
To crawl out of my never-changing world
And to live in your ever-changing world
Because you'll be there to
guide me when I'm confused.

I need you to invite me to talk about things
Without telling me what to say
or how to say it.
Use fewer words so I can focus on your smile.
Though I may talk quickly, I hear slowly.

I need you to help me
To experience the joy of playing together
instead of alone
And to remember
that joy in photographs for years to come.

I need you to show me that I can relate
So I will want to relate
And to learn to move together with others
In this great dance you call Life.

Someday, when your work is done
I will embrace the changes that once frightened me
Because the God who is ultimately in control
Is always there to guide me
And He never changes.
(by Brad Chew)

*

Are You There?
(when I'm not watching?)
Sometimes my focus is in me,
and I forget what you can see.
I go about my busy day
unheeding what the world would say.
And then at once my mom will shout
my name aloud, I'll look about,
and notice to my great surprise
what you can see before your eyes!
Oh, dear! Oh, my! Oh, Goodness' sakes!
Oh, what embarrassment that makes!
That even if I don't watch you,
that you can see the things I do!
Now one great trait I do possess
is focusing with no distress.
But...such a treat to me would be
to have invisibility!
(by MK Downey)