“Now Ben,
if you are going to be in front
you have to keep an even rhythm!
None of that spastic, erratic
slapping of the water,
and stop banging my paddle!”
“Words of wisdom Ben:
in life you keep it smooth,
keep chatter to a minimum,
and you’ll travel the water
in style”
This is going to be a long trip
but luckily, it’s a small lake
“Stop talking so I can ID some birds!”
“Caw-caw! Caw-caw!”
“Ben!”
“Look mom!
Bluegill!
Get closer so I can pick
that white flower”
“Is there something on my back?
Mom, do you see something red?”
“No. I analyzed closely”
“I love being analyzed
closely”
I start laughing hysterically
and almost turn us over
No boats on Lake Lure
but a few lazy pontoons
at 9am
Agonizing s h r i e k s
kept on defying babe's sweet sleep
as restlessness prevailed
over his calm countenance
while spastic limbs turned into a wild frenzy...
Then suffocating terror would attack
my mother's heart
echoing helplessness' s c r e a m s
since child's seizure seemed to paralyze me
torturing my mind, leaving me horrified...
Such gripped me for almost two years~~~
Now, I thank God, the peace-Giver
for victoriously conquering my fears
empowering me prayerfully to face fright's monsters
while overcoming torturous scenes of motherhood-woes
as the special child in our orphanage
champions faith midst miraculous healing.
"He will progress toward retrogression..."
Mother's heart defied such prognosis
yet it reverberated, haunting soul
thus, faith cleaved to divine pillar
toward hope fueling functionality
surmounting spastic bouts
conquering seizures
then beholding miracles.
Now, milestones radiate
as special child drives himself
midst freedom bliss
maneuvering wheelchair
likewise taking steps with walker's brace
vanquishing mother's fear
toward triumph of impossibilities
enabled by God*, the divine anchor.
*Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
August 23, 2025
15th place, "Killick" Free verse Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Craig Cornish; judged on 9/5/2025
Triumphant amidst cheerful glow
Exuding joy, devoid of woe
Hopeful in his radiant zest…
He’s our special child, indeed blest.
Contagious in his laughter’s mirth
Ringing with peace, yon treasure’s worth
Soothing hearts against grievous test…
He’s our special child, indeed blest.
Prim and proper for hygiene gain
Marching on cleanliness-terrain
Showing glamor in grooming’s best…
He’s our special child, indeed blest.
Prayerful and grateful with glee
Calling to God* in gesture spree
Vigilant against spastic pest…
He’s our special child, indeed blest.
*1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
March 14, 2025
2nd place, "Refrains in 8" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Joseph May; judged on 3/21/2025
Gripped with freedom gear
Driving well, sans fear
Our son whirls in joyous spree
Quelling my heart’s shout
Smiting mother's doubt...
He champions victor’s glee!
In special wheelchair
There he zooms with flair
Gesturing triumphant sign…
Oh, we feel so blest
Since his spastic pest
Makes us gain God's grace* divine.
*2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.
November 23, 2024
2nd place "Alouette Me" Rhyme Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Andrea Dietrich; judged on 12/2/2024
here to hereafter you and me
shout from the rooftops tea more tea
our kettles will hum
that head banging drum
and beat a spastic symphony.
Special… midst quirks of sheer mirth
joyful child is God’s blessing
greeting family members with glad smile
marked by good morning of sign language bliss
radiating cheers that champion hope.
Special son spells victory
gesturing double thumbs up
interspersed with spastic praying hands
as he seeks for God’s favor and guidance
toward triumphant day worth thanking for.
His special needs require love
as well as patience and care
meeting demands challenging parents’ role
to stay sober, serenely strong with poise
vanquishing panic against frantic sigh.
Special kindness always reigns
since home begets charity
where safety fortress towers, smiting fear
propelling members toward faith ventures
especially in reaching-out.
Special child exudes good heart
Grateful for supportive souls.
”But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1Corinthians 15:57 of the King James Bible
Vanquishing blight for victor’s flight
My heart is gripped with mother's love
Assisting son’s development height
While he propels himself above.
Optimizing promise of hope
Vanquishing blight for victor’s flight
My patience is stretched with peace-slope
As special child smites spastic blight.
Beholding each milestone delight
My faith trusts God for strength and grace
Vanquishing blight for victor’s flight
Possible upon prayer brace.
Maneuvering wheel chair with zest
My dear son conquers struggling fright
Secured around faith's caring best
Vanquishing blight for victor’s flight.
August 11, 2023
2nd place, "U or V Words" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Constance La France; judged on 8/13/2023
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy blight
To progress toward retrogression strain
Our special child was spastic day and night
Struggling along restlessness’ grievous pain.
His global developmental delay
Marked by seizures that caused wearying shake
Made us constantly alert all the way
Aiding him, compassionately awake.
He is now fourteen, showing milestone leap
Driving wheelchair amidst triumphant zest
Learning much along good hygiene to keep…
His orphanage life proves miracles’ best.
God's love* surmounts disability’s need
With caring kindness, heart is surely freed.
*1 John 4:16 - And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
May 23, 2023
1st place, "Sonnet" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Sotto Poet; Judged on 6/12/2023
Edited on June 13, 2023
For him to enjoy freedom flight
My heart is imprisoned with love
Assisting development height
While he propels himself above.
Optimizing promise of hope
For him to enjoy freedom flight
Patience is stretched along peace-slope
As special child smites spastic blight.
Beholding each milestone delight
I praise God Who grants strength and grace*
For him to enjoy freedom flight
Possible upon prayer brace.
Maneuvering wheel chair with zest
My dear son conquers struggling fright
Secured around faith's caring best
For him to enjoy freedom flight.
*2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
April 12, 2023
If our cars could talk what might they say?
"Oh boy, it's you for one more day".
"I see that you don't care a lot, you
keep on driving when my engine is hot!"
"Unless you plan to walk real soon, stop
running me on mere gas fumes."
"Please use my signals and don't drive spastic.
This body of mine is mostly plastic".
"I'm not a Mercedes. I'm far from bionic.
Replenish these fluids. They are my tonic."
"Before I pound on one more street, replace these tires,
their truly beat."
"One habit of yours truly grains, stop smearing my
windshield with nicotine stains".
"Keep both eyes on the road and listen out for the weather
and we may have some pleasurable times together."
That-to-that; hither then thither…
Here I am with my special child
exuberantly racing as one
around love’s bonding moments
driving pencils, propelled by hope
zooming upward, sliding downward
toward flight destination~~~
Dot-to-dot… one-two-three…
Here we are as mentor-student
bursting midst glee for correct lines
checking that connections make sense
against erasures for crooked marks
midst claps and high-five gestures
since milestone is reached freely
conquering spastic strains~~~
Up-and-down… down-and-up…
Here is our masterpiece together
after mirth-filled dot-to-dot pursuit!
Surpassing number-identification
my son exercises coloring skill
revealing artistic creation
of mom propelling son
along swing delight---
Then in sign language
he praises* God
and thanks me
with sweet hug.
*Psalm 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
December 16, 2022
2nd place, "Dot to Dot" Poetry Writing Contest
Sponsored by Kim Rodrigues; judged on 12/22/2022.
Introversion explores an isolated ego voice
While extra-relational versions
speak a more complex eco-political choice
of historic context
embedded in sensory feelings
positively healthy memories
and those more negatively traumatic,
wealth stealing
And those stuck in in-between
and/or not negatively aptic
unresolved non-synaptic
not clearly either elastic
or emotively spastic
Win grace
or lose life's race,
true or false,
attractive
or repugnant face
Awaiting evolution's revolutionary cycle
slowly turning toward resolution
full and/or empty,
enlightening dark ego inside fears
and traumatic angers,
empowering memories of past dismembering
anticipations deeper even than anxious despair
for lack of active healthy wealth
rather than emotional constipation.
Monotheistic egos
evolving toward panentheistic
win/win living organic ecosystems
of EarthTribe immortal
inside nature as also HolySpirit out
not not polynomial
balanced wu-wei polypathic
polymathic Tao.
If you read the reviews
And review the reports,
You'll conclude I'm a dude
Who is no good at sports.
At badminton, lawn darts, or table tennis,
No record of my name's in that book by Guinness.
When I tried to play baseball
The coach was sarcastic.
I ran like a windmill, he said,
That was spastic.
But the rest of my teammates said they had no bothers
'cause I kept the bench nice and warm for the others.
Gymnastics, wrestling, touch football, the same,
I was simply no good at those physical games.
Even when I tried golf
All the caddies would scoff,
So the country club canceled my guest privileges pass.
So, suffice it to say my abilities lay
In arenas requiring less sweating.
I eschewed the life athletic
And pursued one more aesthetic,
But two things I excel at, I'm betting.
I'm quite good at remembering small victories I win,
And my flops I am tops at forgetting.
Entered You Choose Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Brian Strand
Jan. 11, 2023
Honorable Mention
Thanks, Brian
They snuggled, wrestled, patted, hugged, slept and ate together.
Growing from babies to toddlers in all kinds of weather.
We brought out this photo and our daughter stared with horror.
You are as bad as the grandma who lives next door!
This is unhealthy, despicable, awful, terribly unclean.
The cat on her lap gave me a feline stare that was mean.
When you were little, it was the only way you would eat.
We thought it was hilariously funny, and kind of sweet.
MOM! She said, I am a doctor; this is unclean and bad.
She truly is the prissiest child that we ever had.
Her daughter got on the floor and shared a dish with our dog.
I made a flying leap toward her, looking like a spastic erratic frog.
What are you trying to cover up? Ms. Persnickety asked.
Let’s have a drink! Yelled my husband, taking out a wine flask.
We did not want to be limited to the time we could see her babe.
She might be a doctor, but she is not as nice as our older son Abe.
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