The Masterpiece

To T, my inspiration and joy.

My Daughter
my teacher,
you're painting a picture,
the brief
'A Lesson For Life'
Commissioned alone
by Almighty God,
and wrought
on a canvas,
of Love.

You add to it
daily,
splashes of Joy!
Bright and luminous
thrilling my soul,
and I learn to rejoice
by your daily example,
of infinite joy
in life
that is simple.

Amidst all the frenzy
you paint on,
with Peace.
Soothing and tranquil
your spirit is gentle
and as you lie down to sleep
still and serene,
I praise your creator
and true peace
is mine.

I view and I treasure
the difficult strokes,
of Patience, so poignantly
born of adversity.
Hands slowly reaching
a toy or a treasure
only to drop it,
over and over.
And oft-times my heart
is heavy and aching
as, for you my child
I'm inwardly weeping,
but I look and I see
the joy on your face,
as the meaning of patience
is brought to the piece.

To this delicate work
is added some Kindness,
compassion and warmth
are the essence of you!
Your innocent trust
and total dependency,
evoke loving kindness
in all of your family,
striking a chord
with their fragile humanity.
yes, colours of kindness,
mingle with love.

And running throughout
is pure Gold
of Faithfulness,
constant, enduring,
beginning to end.
And I ponder the goodness
of God
who made you,
who loves and keeps
and daily sustains you.
Then I am reminded
to faithful remain.

Oft-times this picture
takes away
my breath, as it's beauty
deepens each day.
A life-long project
a gift like none other,
I'm fully aware
that the colours may differ.
Some days more vibrant
other days paler
But always a work
That I'll treasure,
forever.

And as we sit
and laugh together,
at no one and nothing
much in particular,
than to celebrate life
and our joy in each other
I'm humbled and honoured
that you,
are my daughter.

2005

A little child shall lead you

I have no voice, yet I speak for many.
An unseen multitude of
individuals
Beautiful,
Special,
Unique!

I have no voice
but possess the ability to teach you,
if you are willing to walk with me
and learn.

To some I am dehumanised,
seen merely as a ‘condition’.
To others
I have many labels which precede
my status as ‘child’.

Do they not know that I was
fearfully and wonderfully made;
known to my Heavenly Father
even In eternity past?

He bestowed upon me many talents!
I was endowed with the gift of eternal innocence
and the capacity to expect good of everyone,
yet you are burdened
with a critical spirit.

I start each day afresh,
unaware of yesterdays cares
and the attitudes,
which gnaw away at society
like a canker.

I am a little girl,
a daughter and a sister
who happens to have a syndrome.
I am a child ….. with a disability.

I do not act and think like you,
but this does not negate my validity.
To deny my existence is a death knell to
your humanity.

Please regard me
as an equal!
Celebrate my diversity
with love, respect
and an understanding,
of who
I
am!

2005

I am a little blessing

My Mum has several children
older siblings I have three,
two brothers and a big sister
and then there's little Me!

I do not make her 'special'
more saintly, nice or good,
she only views her children
just as everybody should ..

That each one is a gift from God
all different by design,
just take my 'xtra chromosome
it's special and it's mine!

And so there really is no need
to offer sympathy,
to tut and sigh or pull a face
when talking about me.

A burden is a tiresome thing
be careful what you say,
as I've seen steam come out Mum's ears
when I am viewed this way!

Although I may need extra care
what some folks fail to see,
is what I give back to my Mum
is more than she gives me.

So when you see, my Mum and me
please greet us with a smile,
we're equal partners in this life
so stop and chat awhile.

I may not fully understand,
all that you do and say,
but happiness and loving words
will brighten up my day!

2005

My Flower

You arrived in May
a late Spring flower,
cherished, delicate and ready to blossom.

You were not just some ordinary flower
but a special one,
handpicked by the Master Himself.

But in the weeks that lay ahead
they neglected you,
and your radiance began to fade.

By August you should have been in full bloom,
that's when flowers flourish ...
isn't it?

But instead you lay broken,

and I was broken too.

I still have a precious flower.
It is the same but different from the first
paradoxical as it may seem.

This bloom is equally as precious to me!

Broken flowers take time to heal,
so do the gardeners that tend them.
But both the flower and the gardener have a creator
who is wiser and stronger than they.

One day you will bloom,
you will be whole again and legs that never walked
will run and skip ...
For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Until then, I will tend to you daily
and lovingly watch you grow.
I will appreciate your beauty
and drink in the scent of your smile.

For, you are more than the world to me.

2004

I am T a l i t h a

Look into my eyes
Tell me what you see.
When I look at you I see many things.
Sometimes I see pity, sorrow
or indifference in your eyes.
Many times you glance and quickly look away
and our eyes never meet.
Other times you stare but I don't see compassion
which I fail to understand.
Very rarely I see special eyes.
Eyes that connect with mine and with my inner being
eyes that understand me, that laugh with me
or well up with tears when I smile.

Look into my eyes and open your mind
and you will see the eyes of a little girl.
Sometimes wide with curiosity and wonderment
at the world of which I am part of.
Other times filled with pain, bewilderment
or the frustration which comes from being trapped
in a body that does not function as required.
But if you take the time and look at me,
you will see that my soul is alive and my heart is pure.
I have desires and I am capable of many things.
You will share in my anticipation, curiosity and joy.
but most of all you will experience my love.

2004