Looking back at … supporting a child with Asperger symptoms

Vision and thoughts in precision-beamed focus,
peripheral matters ignored, little notice
to much of what else is occurring around.
Where did he put down his jacket or book? –
blank memories, and where may his school-bag be found?
Quite unaware of my feelings, or look
– happy? or cross? sadness, tears, or surprise?
blind to expression held in my eyes,
and facial appeals that I’m wordlessly sending, –
he isn’t observing them, uncomprehending.
Figurative language interpreted literally, –
intrigued when the meaning’s explained to him fully!

Frustrations flash,
and tensions snap,
words and actions rashly rush,
’til limp and quiet,
and ‘sorry for the worry’, th’explosive riot.

He’s trying to work on his spacial awareness;
physical goals, and skills, analysed, – progress,
learning to concentrate, track conversations,
– so many dizzying sound paths, – need patience,
keeping in mind what he wants to push in,
(but not just to lecture, and dominate), slide in
somehow among all the buzz, tangled threads.
Needing to nurture awareness of passage
of time, how to organise work, safely stash
keys, plastic cards, any documents, cash;
glance up at faces, and size up their message,
the moods that the features reveal and express:
growing in thoughtfulness,
– touching, astonishing.

Years later –
Sometimes remembering some detail of childhood,
things he had thought, or I’d not understood.
Into my memory come numerous occasions,
frequent frustrations, and many confusions,
– we both gain in hindsight,
appreciate more of each other’s past efforts,
the puzzlement, plight;
acknowledging things he’d concealed, –
pondering such hindering,
amusement when secrets confessed and revealed,
laughter and sympathy,
sharing, felt empathy,
forgiving, thanksgiving,
for failures and labours:

strengthened for struggles
and trust for the pathways ahead.