Mothering an autistic child ( just a brief snapshot)

Mothering an autistic child
ranges from sublime
through facets that can
see you buckle and fall
and again climb

its an all day all night
shift
in which great tests
will come your way
you are dealing with a loved one
who becomes your protege

your time is his you share it
he’s constant with his fear
you have to learn what love’s about
and how you must endear

yourself to what is a pure task
that will draw some despair
but with it comes some happiness
for knowing you are there

he may depend on you
for so much
and your thoughts will be
often futuristic
you ponder thoughtfully

mothering its just a word
it just slips off the tongue
but being that mother of that
autistic child its of’t unsung

you may want to tear your hair out
you may wish that you could rest
you are woken when the sky is dark
at a time you ‘re most distressed

and again when morning breaks
and birdsong
is about
its when you wash and care for him
and possibly you doubt

you just think how absurd
it feels
and you question all the time
what was it about you
why was there a rhyme

or reason, what of other lives
you feel you need a clue
from someone, somewhere something
who can share what you’re going through

whatever it was that happened
the pain sometimes does grow
and alone you lie, tears fill each eye
with a beating heart, you know

that sometimes you can’t hack it
your frustrations let you down
you just may lose your cool a bit
and want to go to town

then regret sets in
and it surfaces
and you feel those pangs of pain
the autism had its roots in life
and it sings a sad refrain

so many ways we travel
so many roads we tread
bridges high into the clouds
and when all, is said

and done, you lay back quietly
wondering deep inside
how you’ve managed all these years
and how sometimes denied

and how you’ve had to fight
your corner. almost every day
your battle has been strenuous
you had to find a way

and you found it
by your efforts
your boy, your protege
clearly chose his mother
from the stars yes far away

you have held it together
it took though all you had
yes you have had happiness
and yes you have felt sad

but you have been so worthy
and have reached heights
others dream
of reaching but don’t make it
despite that inner scream

mothering an autistic child
tempers you and makes
a creative soul more creative
you’re not one of life’s fakes

your genuine, your giving
and your thoughts are yours by right
sincerity and posterity
and a truly awesome light

that spreads around your universe
and clearly helps you see
that what you have attained abroad
is now your guarantee

you rose to every problem
you overcame the fear
and you are a much better soul
for your boy being here

*written for 2 dear friends of mine
who both have autistic sons *