T. J. DISCOVERS BRACES
On Monday
at Burton GeoWorld Magnet School
a young autistic boy
names body parts.
He touches my neck and says, Neck.
Touches my necklace. Necklace, he says.
Hair.
Eyes.
Eye brow.
Chin.
Lips.
When his warm fingers touch my lips,
I smile,
show my teeth and braces.
His dark eyes look inside,
he pauses, considers,
then, proudly announces--
A teeth necklace.
Some of the most rewarding work I have done is with special needs children. I always get so much more than I give. They teach me so much. I love this new word for braces that T.J. taught me. He made me glad that I wore braces. He taught me to see them as jewelry--gems. Do you have a special needs friend you'd like to write a poem for?
Hi Joy,
ReplyDeleteI hope this one makes it in your free-verse novel. I love it!
Linda A.