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People's Attitudes Make Me Cross

Tommy’s having a meltdown
in the local supermarket aisle
I know his careworn mother
so greet her with a kind smile

Tommy’s cries are getting louder
and he throws himself on the floor 
Amy ignores him to do her shopping
but hears folk tutting by the door

As Tommy looks like a normal child
folk cannot see that he’s autistic
They assume it’s bad parenting
their attitudes are far from altruistic


People prejudge, it makes me cross
they are narrow minded, it's their loss

2/27/19

Copyright © Jan Allison | Year Posted 2019

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Paul Callus Date: 3/4/2019 7:18:00 AM You echo my thoughts, Jan. We are often too quick to judge. The trouble is we are not happy to keep it to ourselves, but have to quickly 'tut' and share with others! Congratulations on your medal award. Hugs // paul Login to Reply

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 3/4/2019 12:02:00 AM - A congratulations for your great winning poem, Jan :) - "The word cross can mean many things", it's really true :) - So many different suggestions :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Login to Reply

Carolyn Devonshire Date: 3/3/2019 12:56:00 PM In life we meet a lot of judgmental people, Jan. In the sad case you describe so well, onlookers are making judgments without having all the facts. Very compelling! With many outstanding entries, judging was difficult (again). Congratulations on a second-place win! And thank you for supporting the contest. Best wishes, Carolyn Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 3/3/2019 1:05:00 PM Thanks Carolyn I thought I would think outside the box on the cross theme and I tend not to write on religious themes:-) hugs Jan xx

Caren Krutsinger Date: 3/1/2019 4:10:00 AM It is not only the children with special needs who do this; we need to butt out and stop judging all children, for we have no idea what they have already survived. This meltdown might be exactly what they need. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 3/1/2019 1:03:00 PM well said Caren:-) hugs Jan xx

Eve Roper Date: 2/28/2019 7:53:00 PM Love the picture. I see this picture all the time when I go shopping. Great write, my friend. Good luck in the contest. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/28/2019 7:56:00 PM thanks Eve, I knowing your background I know you understand my friend:-) hugs Jan xx

Jennifer Proxenos Date: 2/28/2019 12:28:00 PM You are so right Jan, people do prejudge, and arrive at their own assumption, and very importantly, not knowing or caring about the history of that person! A wonderful write - really enjoyed it! Poetry hugs, Jennifer. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/28/2019 4:32:00 PM thanks Jennifer:-) hugs Jan xx

Line Gauthier Date: 2/28/2019 11:28:00 AM Love your poem, Jan. Great message. Bravo! Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/28/2019 4:32:00 PM thanks for your comment and soup mail Line, I've made the changes and it reads better now:-) hugs jan xx

Bobby May Date: 2/28/2019 10:49:00 AM People seem to always prejudge, well done JAN!! Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/28/2019 10:54:00 AM thanks Bobby:-) hugs Jan xx

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 2/28/2019 8:55:00 AM - An illness that we do not "see", but it is still there ... quite painful when no one understands how it feels - A very well written poem, Jan - Luck in the contest - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/28/2019 10:54:00 AM Thanks Anne-Lise:-) hugs Jan xx

Arthur Vaso Date: 2/28/2019 12:53:00 AM I liked! simple as that. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/28/2019 10:53:00 AM thanks Art:-) hugs Jan xx

Alexis Y. Date: 2/27/2019 9:27:00 PM Hi Jan, Good take on the contest theme. I like your interpretation of the word cross.I agree, people often prejudge without knowing all the facts. We see one thing, but everything is not always what it seems. I wish you the best of in the contest:-) Alexis Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/28/2019 10:53:00 AM Thanks Alexis, having worked with autistic students for over 16 years I am usually able to recognise their behaviour and have such sympathy for parents where the child is having a melt down and yet some other folk are tutting and giving them dirty looks as they don't know the facts. hugs Jan xx