My Growing Shadow

Growing up, my mother used to recite a poem by Scottish novelist and poet Robert Louis Stevenson, called My Shadow.  In it, he personifies his own shadow in child-like playfulness. No matter how many times she would repeat the rhyming lines of cadence, I've only been able to remember the first sentence, "I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, and what can be the use of him is more than I can see." 

Whenever Riley would follow me around as a toddler, I was reminded and, albeit not my shining moments of motherhood, muttered these lines. Once when at my parents house, my mother overheard me and quickly scolded me for saying such a thing about her grand-baby!

While it was a joke, it was at that time I got the idea of creating my own version of his poem but from the perspective of a mother, specifically the mother of a child with autism.  So, here is my homage to both Robert Louis Stevenson and to my amazing kiddo! 

My Growing Shadow

I have a growing shadow that goes in and out with me, 

He follows me everywhere, even to the bathroom when I pee.

He stays so close beside me, he’s such a whimsical chap, 

And if I take the time to sit, he crawls up in my lap!

He’s very, very like me from his head down to his toes,

And when he’s very tired, yawns while he crinkles up his nose. 

And in the early morning, he wakes me from the dead,

With his plopping and flopping, creating an earthquake felt from bed.

But the funniest thing about him is the way he stacks his toys,

A particular place for everything - not like other girls and boys.

He hasn’t got a notion while others look on and sometimes stare,

Because he’s off in a world, all on his own and doesn’t seem to care.

I’ve watched him shoot up taller, than a bouncing India-rubber ball,

A child’s mind lost behind a young, man-shaped, flesh-toned shawl. 

And instead of sports leagues, summer camps, and epic bicycle spills, 

He’s busy watching cartoons and works on basic living skills. 

Make no mistake, while he’s learning, he’s teaching others too,

Of empathy, grace and patience, just to name a few.

Life would be bland, without him, and though sometimes he’s misjudged,

He’s the center of our home and is quite thoroughly loved.

So, if you’re out and about and see someone much like him, 

Stop to say hello, give a high-five or just a grin. 

People with disabilities aren’t freakish or convolute, 

They need kindness and understanding, just like me and you.