My grandson Noah Jr. just turned five. Noah Jr. is autistic. He is in a world that is his own and pathways in are few and far between. He is terribly bright and full of love, yet he is isolated in that prison so many families have come to know as autism.
It is estimated that one in every 110 children have an autism spectrum disorder (Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, December 18, 2009). Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability with an annual growth rate of 10-17% (Autism Society). That is alarming.
I love the above picture of Noah – it makes me both happy and a little sad. Such a beautiful boy…such a beautiful mind…such a beautiful heart…all so difficult to get to even though you can see glimpses of it – it remains painfully out of reach.
In honor of Noah’s recent birthday I wanted to share a poem today that was written by Frank George who is autistic. It is powerful because the voice comes from within autism as opposed to so many other poets who write about autism from the outside.
The Other Side of Nowhere
On the other side of nowhere,
Lies an infinite expanse,
Of anything and everything
That doesn’t make much sense.
I’m in here, and you’re out there;
The picture keeps rewinding.
People laughing, crying, feeling…
I do not understand.
It’s almost there within my reach;
But on the other hand,
I’m sliding, slithering, slowly slipping…
The tide has turned, and left the beach.
Pressing onward, pushing hard,
I cannot quit; I must move on.
My ragged feet have timeless trod
A land before, that lies beyond
Behind, sideways, and forward;
Strange and weird, bizarre and odd.
Shimmering meadows glazed in fog…
I see what others cannot hear.
My mindless mind is almost bare;
I stretch beyond Horizon’s pier,
Precariously tottering on a log,
On the other side of nowhere…
Day four hundred and forty-five of the new forty – obla di obla da
Ms. C
THE NEW FORTY 
Oh that made me cry! I have a cousin, Austin, that is probably 3 or 4 years younger than I am, and he is autistic too. We used to play together when we were younger, and would go swimming together, but he was always in his own little world, but I just loved him so much. I haven’t seen him in years, but that story just made it all come flooding back…. 🙂
LikeLike
There is a lump in the pit of my stomach after reading this beautiful poem. I had never been touched by Autism until last November, when my significant other’s daughter, age 9 at the time, came to live with us.
She is beautiful and very high functioning (diagnosed as PDD) which can be very confusing and sad to us when she retreats to her own world.
She will need guidence and protection all of her life.
Her intelligence is off the charts, yet the simplest of functions, such as bathing are foreign to her. It takes daily reminding for each step of getting ready for school.
She believes that EVERYONE is her friend and the concept of strangers is not one we have mastered, which makes it extremely difficult to make sure she remains safe.
God will help us guide her and help her navigate this world she doesnt understand and we will walk thru it with her, loving her and holding her hand while she grows up and thereafter.
LikeLike
Noah is blessed to have a family who love him, nurture him and welcome him. Blessings to you all.
LikeLike