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jbouder
Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534
Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash

0 posted 1999-12-27 05:12 PM


Autistic shackles hold your little tongue
From telling me the punch line of the joke
That caused your fits of laughter to provoke
Excited happy tears.  You’ve never sung
Your fav'rite Barney song and, when you clung
To me that winter night when you awoke
To bitter, fearful sobs, you never spoke
A word of what tormented one so young.
Although autistic shackles bind his speech,
His love is blazoned on his beaming smile.
Although I missed the punch line of that jest,
I laughed myself to happy tears.  And each
Dark night when he awakes and fears defile
His sleep, in Daddy’s arms he finds his rest.
---

*A Petrarchan Sonnet has a rhyme scheme of (usually) abbaabba cdecde.  The first eight lines present a problem or argument and the final six the resolution.

 Jim

"If I rest, I rust." - Martin Luther


© Copyright 1999 Jim Bouder - All Rights Reserved
RainbowGirl
Member Elite
since 1999-07-31
Posts 3023
United Kingdom
1 posted 1999-12-27 05:18 PM


Superb!!!

HUGS

 Don't ask me where I'm going, just listen when I'm gone and far away you'll hear me singing softly to the dawn.


Echo Rhayne
Senior Member
since 1999-09-17
Posts 1495
Canyon Country, CA
2 posted 1999-12-27 05:32 PM


This is beautiful, and very touching...especially to me!  Great job!


 ~*~ Hell is not a place of fire and a devil with a tail and horns. But a place of torment because the light of God is gone. To escape this, accept the blood of Jesus Christ! ~*~


Elizabeth
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Moderator
Member Ascendant
since 1999-06-07
Posts 6871
Minnesota
3 posted 1999-12-27 06:06 PM


Great job, J-with the sonnet and the raising of your son. Just beautiful.

Elizabeth

 Nail to the mast her holy flag,
Set every threadbare sail-
And give her to the god of storms,
The lightning and the gale!
-Oliver Wendell Holmes



Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

4 posted 1999-12-27 08:01 PM


Beautiful poem, Jim and beautiful love!

 Denise



Marge Tindal
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Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
5 posted 1999-12-27 08:08 PM


Oh, Jim ...
I could just hug your neck for this one.
Worked with an autistic child for four years and could see him in your poem.
A wonderful reminder of his need for hugs ...
and my need to give them to him.
Bless you ... bless your son.
Love ~*Marge*~


 ~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
noles1@totcon.com



Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
6 posted 1999-12-27 09:22 PM


This is so beautifully done and so full of the love and understanding of your son.



 In the dew of little things,
the heart finds its morning
and is refreshed.
(ee cummings)

Elizabeth Santos
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-11-08
Posts 9269
Pennsylvania
7 posted 1999-12-27 09:25 PM


There is so much love in this poetry, not to mention that it's a beautiful poem unto itself. Congratulations on many counts!
Liz

Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA
8 posted 1999-12-27 11:24 PM


Nice one.... and in iambic pentameter too...
Meadowmuse
Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263

9 posted 1999-12-27 11:53 PM


Your devotion is the true poetry here, to my way of thinking. ('tis not to say that the poem isn't grand...it surely is!)
Severn
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-17
Posts 7704

10 posted 1999-12-28 06:03 AM


Wonderful!
Well wrought - well thought.

I like this.  K

jbouder
Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534
Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash
11 posted 1999-12-28 07:31 AM


Thanks, everyone, for your kind replies.  And, Nan, of course it's in iambic pentameter. I wouldn't want to disappoint my teachers.  

 Jim

"If I rest, I rust." - Martin Luther


U K Hero
Member
since 1999-08-08
Posts 266
England
12 posted 1999-12-28 10:04 AM


Top notch and so to the top you go.
Pepper
Member Elite
since 1999-08-19
Posts 3079
Southern Florida
13 posted 1999-12-28 10:19 AM


So very moving Jim....a beautiful tribute of a special
love between father and son
Wonderful.....

 A soul that writes from the heart and shares it, truly gives a gift extraordinaire!
Shannon



Poet deVine
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since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley
14 posted 1999-12-28 10:25 AM


I've often said I read poetry with my heart and not my head. No matter what form this is in, it's a wonderful poem! There is so much love in it! Thank you...

jbouder
Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534
Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash
15 posted 1999-12-28 10:29 AM


Thanks guys.  While this is at the top I don't have to feel guilty over replying to my own post.

Poet deVine:  I'm on a crusade, of sorts, to prove that head and heart are not necessarily divorced.  By your reaction I suspect I'm getting my point across. Thanks for the fine compliment.

 Jim

"If I rest, I rust." - Martin Luther


Willem
Member
since 1999-11-18
Posts 139
Inverness, FL, USA
16 posted 1999-12-31 01:10 AM


Jim, don't change anything in this poem! It's
beautiful the way it is.  We don't let the
shape of a bottle of wine intrude on our
enjoyment of the content, do we?  
A beautiful poem tends to very fragile and
may easily loose some of its impact, its
evocative power if tinkered with by others
than the poet himself.

My wife and I were very moved upon reading
it, because we sometimes took care of two
autistic children for friends of us, so they
could have some respite from their constant
daily cares. We loved those kids as much as
our own, and we understand what you must now
be going through.  We are praying for you
and your son.

Willem
  

wayoutwalt
Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 4870
TEXAS (it's all big)
17 posted 1999-12-31 01:33 AM


wow man i could never do anythin like this pack a punch and deliver it in style o yuh!
Rosemary J. Gwaltney
Senior Member
since 1999-08-26
Posts 997
northern mountains, Idaho
18 posted 1999-12-31 01:33 AM


Wonderful poem!  A loving tribute to a dear little boy.  While most would say he is lucky to have you for a daddy, and so would I, yet, I would add, I can see he is a gift to you as well ... seeing your love for him!
My own child who has a disability has taught me more about life and love than anyone else.




 ...Living is ever like crossing rivers; finding a new life on each shore ... RJG

Isis
Member Ascendant
since 1999-09-06
Posts 6296
Sunny Queensland
19 posted 1999-12-31 02:17 AM


Jim a beautiful job here, and I must say you sound like a beautiful man to me, inside where love and caring and fatherhood count.
God bless and Happy New Year hon  

 At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet. (Plato)
~Isis~
(Daughter of Mystery)


Skyfyre
Senior Member
since 1999-08-15
Posts 1906
Sitting in Michael's Lap
20 posted 1999-12-31 02:22 AM


An endeavor most worthy in both skill and emotion.  Well done Jim.

--Kess


 You cannot choose the way of your death, but the path you choose will determine its own end.


jbouder
Member Elite
since 1999-09-18
Posts 2534
Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash
22 posted 1999-12-31 06:41 PM


I want to thank everyone again for your kind and encouraging comments.  I must admit that I had no idea that this poem would have the impact on others that it evidently had.  I am gladdened on two counts: (1) that I can write a sonnet (something the Forum taught me to do correctly ... must mean its working   ), and (2) that others could be encouraged by my experiences with my oldest son.

Most of us, I think, write poetry to give our thoughts, feelings and experiences and home.  It is an added blessing when others are encouraged or inspired by our poetry.  

My oldest son is 4-1/2 years old and is autistic. He rarely uses language practically and has never spoken in a complete sentence, sung his favorite song, or told me what was going on in his own little world.  We actually compliment each other quite well, considering I don't know when to shut up.  But dispite all of this, we still have a wonderful connection (I assume this was communicated well enough in the sonnet). I am convinced that any parent would feel the same way and do the same things under similar circumstances if they let themselves love their child(ren).  

Thanks again, all of you, for your comments.
< !signature-->

 Jim

"If I rest, I rust."  - Martin Luther



[This message has been edited by jbouder (edited 12-31-1999).]

Richard
Junior Member
since 1999-12-27
Posts 35
California
23 posted 1999-12-31 09:10 PM


Absolutely beautiful, Jim. Can feel your thoughts as I read. Thank you
Justbleu
Member Elite
since 1999-08-31
Posts 3329
Oregon, Originally From Alaska :)
24 posted 2000-02-04 02:29 AM


This is precious....I enjoyed reading this!!  Your little guy sounds like a cutie!!  

Take Care
Bridgette


 Creation of woman from the rib of Man: She was not made from his head to top him; nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him; but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved."

Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

25 posted 2000-02-04 10:19 AM


I remember reading this in CA. Excellent sonnet, Jim!

Denise

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