When a kid with Down’s Syndrome lumbers along
in a coat of clumsy, squinting to find
a level parade, treading mostly alone;
what do you make of this jack-of-no-trade?
Revulsion, compassion, empathy, fear,
anger or sadness because strangeness is near
- what do you reckon, or, what do you feel?
‘owbout respect for a teacher over there,
a mirror of openness, simpleness, now
enjoying a journey with others and me
as a master of dancing, exuberance, now
and with a strange little question ‘What’s the real deal?’
like, your last day on earth, well, what will you choose
- one million dollars, a hug, celebration,
or smile?
Thank you for this very moving poem. How do we respond? I'm reminded of the parable of the Good Samaritan. In fact, here in the UK we have an organisation called "The Samaritans" dedicated to a telephone service for those in desperate need for a listening ear, including the suicidal but not exclusively. Each individual is unique and of great value.
ReplyDelete"strangeness is near," a blessing not hidden away beneath my comforting veneer, saying "look, all is not as it seems." a jolt to my complacency. a lesson in honesty, vulnerability, openness.
ReplyDeletethanks for yours, and for sharing here.
Thanks for sharing, I need to think about it, to put order into my feelings...
ReplyDeleteAgain, briliant. You have taken what was for hundreds of years considered a curse and turned it into loving, rhythmic art.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem! When I was a child, I thought as a child and was scared of those a little different. As an adult, it is easy to see that these special people are a gift to the world.
ReplyDelete