3 artists, one family

The other night, I had the pleasure of looking through a culmination of artwork by three talented young people who play a big role in my life. The above sketch is a haunting piece done by my 13 year old friend. She normally draws in manga form and has created her own comic strip. This is only the tip of the iceberg of her talents. She plays the violin, acts and sings. I love having a front row seat to watch and to enjoy her emerging self.

Below, is a poem written by her twin brother who lives with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. A bit of his perspective on life is caught in this poem which has stayed with me since I first read it. My young friend intrigues me, his nose in a book far more often than up and interacting with the people around him. Though there are times when he will engage in whatever conversaton is happening around him and share his perspective with others. He loves his dog, and knows the comfort of belonging to a loving family and a large group of family friends. Still, his life is a struggle as he tries to figure out how to "read" and react to the feelings expressed all around him.

On this Monday morning, bitter cold in temperature, I wanted to share their creative energy to warm us up for the week.

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To Dance with Oneself

by Liam

To dance with oneself so gray and so old

To dance every night, the same story told

To see the same flower

To breathe the same air

To eat the same food

To brush the same air.

Sameness.

One million eyes

Copies of just two

One million sighs

Sighs coming from you

They all see

The same things as thee.

Sameness

To be the same person

Three million times over

Sameness

To dance with yourself so gray and so old

To dance every night, the same story told.

Chaos.

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ooooohhhhh! Guess what? They have a beautifully gifted little sister too who gets up every morning and writes poetry before she heads to school. Many of her attempts she tosses in the trash. Some she saves. Shy and quiet, my little friend who is in Grade 3 has a magical gift she is tentative about sharing with many. I was honoured that she let me read some of her more recent descriptive pieces. The one I have posted here is, according to her, unfinished.

Every morning the moon wakes up the sun. Then the moon says goodbye to the sun. The sun always wears colourful nightgowns. Her nightgown is the sunrise. Later in the day the sun puts on a bright blue dress. She watches over earth.

When it is cloudy, it means the sun is sick and she stays in bed. When it reains the sun is crying. Every night the moon wraps the sun in a starry blanket. But first the sun gets into her colourful nightgown......the sunset.