The Boy at My Side

revivor on Dec 11, 2009

Tags: ASD, Autism, Father, Learning disability, squirrels

My eldest son has Autism and learning difficulties. He is 16 and in this poem I attempt to see the world through his eyes…but it’s hard!!

Image by revivor – view here

Do you like squirrels?
He blurts out at random…

Not more of your nonsense
Your unending drivel?
I have my friends
My loved ones, my heroes
In sport and in business
In city and park
Preferring the banter
The poise and the swivel
To more of your loud and unending drivel

But what if you don’t do the chat
And the touchline?
Escaping instead to the garden
And laughing
As sniffing and digging
Collecting and cleverly moving and gliding
And scrambling and sliding
With beautiful fur and measured response
Is the finest of creatures
The one idolised
By the boy at my side

He looks back towards me
With passion and eyes
That are bright with excitement
And no sense of drivel

And asks me again
Dad, do you like squirrels?

Spaghetti Bolognese

Try this poem from revivor
describing my son at 12

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Comments (25)

cutedrishti8 on Dec 11, 2009
Wonderfully written…..Take care of ur son..
clay hurtubise on Dec 11, 2009
Very nice. Sorry your son has autism. May you both learn from each other.
Thanks,
Clay
Jamie Myles on Dec 11, 2009
Wonderful, It is amazing that you can relate so well to your son and his inner world. What a loving father you must be.
AlmaG on Dec 11, 2009
Wow! that was an amazing poem!
BullwinkleMuse on Dec 12, 2009
I was struck by the honesty with which you approached this seeming disconnect between your son and you; and your struggle to overcome it. To be able to see, with childlike simplicity, that which we otherwise overlook or take for granted, is a gift – to both you and the boy at your side.
giftarist on Dec 12, 2009
Well written, take care both of you..^_^
Christine Ramsay on Dec 12, 2009
This is such a beautiful poem about the relationship between you and your son. You show true understanding of how he thinks.

Christine
mkd1788 on Dec 12, 2009
excellent..greatly expressed relationship…
Darla Cooke on Dec 12, 2009
A lovely and well expressed poem.
K.Reshma on Dec 12, 2009
Very well written, you can very well relate to his inner feelings. Take care of him.
qasimdharamsy on Dec 13, 2009
nice written !!!
Joshua Miguel on Dec 13, 2009
a very heart felt poem. tnx for the share.
Dawn marie on Dec 18, 2009
Beautiful and well written words.God bless and thanks for sharing your thoughts
Dee Gold on Dec 23, 2009
I know that you’ll cherish your son forever.God bless you and your son.Merry Christmas!
Anuradha Ramkumar on Dec 29, 2009
Wow…what an amazing poem. God bless both of you. It\’s amazing that you are able to see your son\’s world so well.
fishfry aka Elizabeth Figueroa on Dec 31, 2009
Great way to describe the boy by your side, you seem quite in tune to his world, not that we can ever understand the way he comprehend and visualize things. In all honesty, you did an awesome job with the piece of writing.
Fantastic
CutestPrincess on Jan 9, 2010
very touching poem…love it… you\’re such a great dad!
sasi rao on Jan 11, 2010
very moving. cheers to a sweet relationship.
Fegger on Mar 11, 2010
I think one of the foremost challenges for a parent of an autistic child is the lack of feedback and interpersonal communications–as this is trademark of the disease. You, however, seem tireless in ways and means to explore—in sincerity, thoughtfulness and devout love–with your son. He is likely hearing you and knowing what you are extending to him; but his voice is trapped in terms that none of us understand at this time. Beautiful testimony.
magicdarts on Mar 24, 2010
Very inspiring and honest insight. For me it also reflects the remarkable ability we all have to communicate, to reevaluate how we see the world, to see things from a different point of view, we all need to take time to do that
Melody SJAL on Apr 2, 2010
How touching.
fragile18 on Apr 29, 2010
very touching. thanks for sharing that.
AskSan on Jul 28, 2010
Oh wow, I love this. So touching and kind. Good luck to you and your son and enjoy the squirrels!!!
UncleSammy on Nov 30, 2010
hhahahahahah wonderful Father and son
katarina giselle on Jan 19, 2011
Beautiful, inspiring, and truly heart touching.

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The Boy at My Side

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