Grace Burns’ poem Lament for the #6 appeared here as part of Contributor Series 8: Feast and Famine. Read her previous work here to get a sense for her range, humor, and style.
This Mother Resolves
By Grace Burns
I am weary from holding my breath and gritting my teeth,
waiting for your awkwardness to evaporate
so you can be more like the other boys.
I study you intently, but I am unable to admire your beauty.
Instead, I continually watch for signs of improvement.
Is the latest therapy working? Shall we try a new one?
I don’t want to be preoccupied with shadows of the future,
with what will happen when you grow up,
with what will happen when I am gone.
I don’t want to spend another minute believing
life would be so easy and fun if you didn’t have autism.
I want to love you for all that you are now,
not for all that I want you to be someday.
There are so many diagnosises that should have been irradicated by now. If the government and charity funds were spent wisely, they would be. Heartfelt poem.
Very powerful, don’t mind me I’m just cutting onions.
Yes, very powerful indeed.