How This Started

The room was unusually dark that tinny night,
As music and laughter replaced the light,
Toasts were given for proud glories earned,
As horrors of war exploded and burned.

My warrior father, the subject of such great acclaim,
My worrier mother forgot to bring me a plate,
And my brothers all dressed in their best Sunday clothes,
Had to act proper and do as they were told.

For the party they would roam,
While I remained quietly in my room,
...beyond the stares of the crowd,
And people in whom Dad was proud.

I was free from ties and shoes,
I was free from table manner rules,
But I missed being included,
And grew tired of being secluded.

You see, way back in the day,
Everyone knew the proper way,
To hide a retarded kid,
Especially one who looked as I did.

But I really have to tell you it was great,
I mean you didn't even have to sit up straight,
Then at seven it came crashing down,
I accidentally proved I was mentally sound.

With a simple operation to uncross my eyes,
And a few simple tests for I.Q. size,
The kid with promise grew from that kid retarded,
And that, my friend, was just how this started.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2007



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Date: 7/16/2010 8:20:00 AM
A great story. The way you write tells me you are anything but retarded. enjoyed mucho. Congrats on the selection. Love, Dave
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Date: 7/14/2010 11:28:00 AM
Congrats on having your poem being featured on Poetry Soup home page this week, you are such a great talent. Please keep your poetry pen dancing to the lyrics of your heart. Be great and enjoy the honor. Have a lovely week. Love, Adeleke
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Date: 7/12/2010 9:50:00 AM
Congratulations on your poetry being featured this week Michael. Love, Carol
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Date: 9/29/2009 7:13:00 AM
And to you to Deborah... I may be vain but I now have built a website called MyGullWhellsOn.com where I also store my poetry. Thank you for the kind words... the funny thing is someone going through what I did has no idea (at least at first) that things should be any different... so I have no bad feelings about it... in fact I wound up getting much support to develop once it was thought possible... I am and have been truly blessed in my life.
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Date: 9/29/2009 6:44:00 AM
My goodness what a unique perspective you were given on life and you seem to be using it as a gift too. How great, you saw a different reality and in some ways a truer view of folks I bet! My younger brother had I think 3 eye operations and the fear caused by all that surgery really impacted his mind. Mid 20's now he seems to be finally blooming! Light & Love to you
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