Poetry has always been equal parts intimidating and confusing to me. But, this year has been a season of new things for me so when I started to play around with some words the last couple of days, it just happened. What started with a few whispers and what-ifs in my head, somehow evolved into a poem.
So, here I am, sharing it with you (despite my nerves). I think you'll figure out what it's about on your own. I'll just add that this is probably one of the aspects of parenting a child with autism, especially with very limited language, that I struggle with the most.
I'm just a baby poet (if I'm even allowed to claim the title) so don't judge me too harshly. I hope you find something about it that touches you.
I Dream of Your Voice
By Sharon M. Peterson
I dream of your voice
soft, slurring syllables of a whisper,
harsh, staccato rhythms of anger,
smooth, rounded vowels of amusement.
The language you speak is foreign
and you are stingy with the lessons,
parsing out tiny bits of knowledge,
only to change the meaning.
I wonder at the words you’ve never said,
thoughts tumbling around unspoken,
questions left unasked, unanswered,
fears and hurts never voiced.
I ache to hear the words “I love you,”
without pretense or thought,
for them to slip off your tongue effortlessly
and be hidden indelibly in my heart.
Instead, I hear you with my eyes, guessing.
You speak without words. A look, a touch,
your movements, your stillness tell a story.
In your silence, you are speaking.
Am I listening?
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