The Rocking Chair

Rocking Chair
(The Autistic Child)

Born with walls constructed in her mind, 		
She keeps the world and all its threat at bay,		
Inside her rocking chair day after day,		
A month, a year, an hour, no sense of time		
Just rocking, rocking all her life away.		

Christmas comes and presents pile around		
Her chair; she sees the paper, shining, colors bright; 
She reaches for the red, the blue, the white.		
She revels in the crumpling paper sound--		 
Just rocking, rocking in her endless night.

The family gathers for the festive meal,
She will not leave her chair, her treasured place,
The never-ceasing motion of her private race.
She’s rocking in her solitary reel,
An empty stare on her unchanging face. 

But what is this, her sister’s gentle hand
A soft, accepted touch , a simple smile,
“I want to sit with you a little while”--  
Contact made without seeming to demand
They rock together—a stationary mile.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Omalley Polatnick Avatar
January 23, 2015 at 3:18 PM
Beautiful poem. Really touched my heart. Sending loving thoughts to you and yours.
Williams Avatar
January 10, 2014 at 12:11 PM
Karen a very well crafted and well thought out write, so eloquently put....David
Ruff Avatar
January 10, 2014 at 5:48 PM
Thank you for your wonderful comments.
Crenshaw Avatar
January 10, 2014 at 11:51 AM
awesome. i think you captured something
Crenshaw Avatar
January 10, 2014 at 9:44 PM
Karen, lol. I guess you could say there's a reason for that. Anyhow, I did enjoy your poem. It takes a special heart to see into a child's heart like that. Thank you for sharing that with all of us.
Ruff Avatar
January 10, 2014 at 5:49 PM
Thank you for reading. Your picture, of course, is little, but I hope you won't mind my saying that you resemble a Duck Dynasty character.
Chircop Avatar
January 10, 2014 at 11:00 AM
This is very deep..I have one of my closest friend with a handsome child..now going in his teens who suffers with autism.and this post reminds me of how his sister shows love and warmth towards him.Support is needed and there is no greater support of love itself .He definitely do some repwtitive thing but he s a master of computer technology.Im sure this girl will find the thing she suceeds in..So don t give up hope.She might surprise you.Heartfelt post
Macmillan Avatar
January 10, 2014 at 9:29 AM
OH, I am so glad that I read that comment and came to see... this is sooooooooo beautiful. I'm really moved by this, as I have a friend with two boys, both with asbergers ... thank you for penning this. AWESOME!
Ruff Avatar
January 10, 2014 at 10:38 AM
Thank you so much. Yes, I know what asbergers is too. People have no idea what families go through.
Madappattu Avatar
January 10, 2014 at 6:44 AM
Great exploration of an image...nicely penned
Parker Avatar
January 9, 2014 at 9:12 PM
profound and filled with empathy...heartfelt...this poem just gave my heart pause
Ruff Avatar
January 9, 2014 at 9:57 PM
Thank you
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace