I will never understand
why people look and deride
a person
who is just like you and I
inside
I will never understand
can’t you see
that individual
has feelings like you
like me
I will never understand
as the winds blow
why such intelligence
and thought
are looked at so low
I will never understand
beauty from above
rarely given
second thought
as a gift of love
This month is autism awareness month. A time to support those who carry an additional burden through life. If anything has been my life’s cause, it is to help others appreciate these children who have so much love to offer the world. My friend Alexi has bravely written an account about her younger brother – a survivor – a gem!!!
This is also One Stop Wednesday!!!
enjoy the wonderful poetry submitted by the community of poets in our midst.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77682540@N00/2789338547 Ali Smile
Rhett Maxwell http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhettmaxwell/2443185091
penned in moon dust 
Such behavior it seems to me to be an attempt to bolster their own feelings of inadequacy.
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I agree – sad!!!
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What special gift that hides inside their minds. We may never understand…
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…but we can enjoy if we look for the treasure
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beautiful poem moon… something I’ll also never understand
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A friend of mine has an autistic son. Looks normal, as you say, and as a result is most misunderstood. Great One Shot, Moonie.
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I will never fully understand it either, but learning to embrace it as 1/2 of my family fall under the Autism Spectrum (Asbergers)Scale. Some days it’s overwhelming. Others a gift. Thank you for this!
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wow – I should say there are days!!!
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I know people with children with autism, and it’s a shame that people who don’t understand, see and treat them so differently.
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I’ll never unerstand them either…
but I’ll always understand loving people like you, because I gravitate towards them.
xoxo
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I can’t understand this either… looking through others as though they are paper thin, not seeing into the depths of the beautiful soul within.
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thanks for thisone moon…a couple of the boys i work with are autistic…and they live in a world that can be cruel…esp in school…
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a nice awareness of autism..my nieces daughter is autistic and my niece has become a wonderful advocate, as a journalist and podcast interview she has done much for its awareness..thank you for sharing…bkm
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thank you moondustwriter,
you’ve made this day shine with autism awareness and everyone we can reach with the knowledge needed to recognize and understand autism, asperger syndrome, and tourette syndrome, which often runs hand in hand with the autisic spectrum…my son is autistic and he is now 22 year old…i just want people to know how amazing he is…the accomplishments and abilities he beholds have surpassed all the restrictions placed on him…his goal is to educate people, helping them to realize he is ‘people’ too…i always tell him ‘prove them wrong’…as much pain and the many struggles he has endured he has taught me so much more than i have hoped to have taught him…i am so grateful to you for your posting about autism awareness…we all can use the magic of your moondust sprinkled over our lives…tears of hope…
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i don’t understand either. beautifully written! ♥
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dear moondustwriter,
i forgot to thank you for the beautiful poem..i am sending your words to my son…the photos of the bubbles in between the verses add the meaning and depth so needed to grasp an affliction that in its own way traps someone inside a bubble…simply floating away and yet so beautiful.
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thanks for bringing sense to the bubble – I knew I had to use the bubble for it’s complex message but you just unraveled the puzzle for me as well – hugs janice
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I don’t understand that either – thoroughly enjoyed reading your poem – thank you 🙂
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Unfortunately, we tend to dismiss those we don’t understand. 😦
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Amazing poem. A great way to bring awareness to autism.
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any thing I can do to help
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So good that you wrote about this, Leslie. These children are precious and often so gifted–I believe a gift for those who are touched by them as are persons with dementia with whom I was blessed to work for many years.
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All I can say is I always enjoy your poetry. Keep speaking to us poetically.
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I will never understand
as the winds blow
why such intelligence
and thought
are looked at so low
Amazing Leslie, such passion, thank you for advocating for an overlooked and misunderstood people. Bravo friend. Hugs ~Apryl
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I don’t understand either. Beautiful poem my friend x
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Powerful poem and it is sad not only to have to raise an autistic child, but to deal with the ignorance of some who share unwelcome stares and remarks.
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very very thought provoking…
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One of my best friend’s sons is autistic. He’s a beautiful boy. I can’t imagine anyone not seeing that beauty or choosing not to see it. Thank you for highlighting awareness, Leslie.
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beautifully written…the bubbles seem to help equate the fragile quality of the human spirit if not embraced and loved, very nice ~
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Great One Shot. Thanks for reminding me. 🙂 Here is my One Shot this week- http://riversruminations.blogspot.com/2011/04/game-of-god.html
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Everyone has to have a dog to kick. It makes us feel so much better to know we are not like “them.” Really it is near time to chuck humanity, if it can be called that, off the planet.
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a great poem on a subject i know is so close to your heart…great one shot..cheers pete
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We are all human, all Earthings… what else matters?
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I love the delicacy of these beautiful, translucent images juxtaposed with your words “I will never understand.” Just finished watching the film “Temple Grandin” the other day. It was wonderful and eye-opening. So often we rush through our lives and fail to really see beneath the surface to the beauty and courage underneath…
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Thanks Leslie – there is beauty and yes a great deal of courage
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Perhaps they are here to teach us the gift of compassion, because sometimes our “normal” is difficult for them. Lovely, heartfelt, beautiful-bubble, thoughtful piece.
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I agree – I have learned so much from the children and adults I have the honor of calling friends. I wish I could be so gentle and so long suffering
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Neither will I! Ignorance and fear, intolerance and arrogance have a lot to do with it though. Great sentiment. Shah.
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Leslie,
I’ve been following your blog for a month now and really love your perspective. As the father of a special needs son with autistic traits I can relate so well to your encouraging words and advocacy demonstrated in this piece today.
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Thanks Chris means alot coming from a sojourner in a world many do not understand
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Too much truth in those words…
Here is my One Shot:
gost of a rose
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I’ll never understand, either.
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Sometimes what we don’t understand breeds fear and prejudice. A historical fact… Good read dear…
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yes I guess so
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Beautifully put, Leslie. It is so hard to understand. I think sometimes that bad behavior comes from a place of fear.
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For some reason, these verses touched me a lot. It’s that same feeling I get when a poem stirs inside me. Thank you.
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Thanks Samuel means so much coming from you!!!
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When I first read it, I hadn’t caught on to its relation to your cause. Your poem holds a lot of meaning and brings mindfulness.
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thanks San Fran girl!!!
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I enjoyed it completely. My wishes!
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Neither do I, we are afterall humans. Nice message, thanks for your visit!
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a great post for a great cause. the bubble photos are so whimsical!
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