Poems about Special Needs children or Careworkers?

[mustgetalife]

Hi, my severely autistic son has just moved house unit at his school, having been at the place 3 yrs. He has moved to a new house unit, and due to his challenging behaviour, requires a lot of staff that know him well. Consequently, a core team have moved across with him and everybody is hoping it will be for the better. I was wondering what I could do as a 'thank you' for the other staff that have been left at the original house unit, as a lot of them have worked with him and he was well liked in the house and rather a 'personality' who I think will be sorely missed. I didn't know whether to do the easy option and just get a big tin of Qual. street or to do something like a nice poem that would be more of a lasting momento, that could hang on the wall. Does anybody have any ideas for me please? I know there are quite a few poems out there of 'Special Needs kids' etc or maybe something about Careworkers.

[cruella]

What about sending the staff a "Thank you card" and maybe a donation to the home's Comfort Funds. I am sure the staff would think of a nice idea to improve the home for the other children.

[jeanyb]

Have a look at "The Carer's Poem" (author unknown) - might be suitable

[starmack]

A poem is a fine thought. There is a beautiful poem by the Chilean Nobel Prize winner Pablo Neruda about all children in the fullness and power of their youth. It is titled "Brown and Agile Child."
You will find its English translation on the internet and also on the inside cover of "The Pretender" album by Jackson Browne.
Good luck always.

[starmack]

Popular songwriter Phil Coulter, who wrote Eurovision hits for Sandie Shaw and Cliff Richard, also wrote a very moving song titled "Scorn Not His Simplicity." It certainly fits the bill for your idea of a poem.

[starmack]

Scorn not his Simplicity
By Phil Coulter

See the child
With the golden hair
Yet eyes that show the emptiness inside
Do we know
Can we understand just how he feels
Or have we really tried

See him now
As he stands alone
And watches children play a children's game
Simple child
He looks almost like the others
Yet they know he's not the same

Scorn not his simplicity
But rather try to love him all the more
Scorn not his simplicity
Oh no
Oh no

See him stare
Not recognizing the kind face
That only yesterday he loved
The loving face
Of a mother who can't understand what she's been guilty of

How she cried tears of happiness
The day the doctor told her it's a boy
Now she cries tears of helplessness
And thinks of all the things he can't enjoy

Scorn not his simplicity
But rather try to love him all the more
Scorn not his simplicity
Oh no
Oh no

Only he knows how to face the future hopefully
Surrounded by despair
He won't ask for your pity or your sympathy
But surely you should care

Scorn not his simplicity
But rather try to love him all the more
Scorn not his simplicity
Oh no
Oh no
Oh no

[starmack]

Brown and Agile Child
By Pablo Neruda

Brown and agile child, the sun which forms the fruit
And ripens the grain and twists the seaweed
Has made your happy body and your luminous eyes
And given your mouth the smile of water.

A black and anguished sun is entangled in the twigs
Of your black mane when you hold out your arms.
You play in the sun as in a tidal river
And it leaves two dark pools in your eyes.

Brown and agile child, nothing draws me to you,
Everything pulls away from me here in the noon.
You are the delirious youth of bee,
The drunkedness of the wave, the power of the heat.

My sombre heart seeks you always
I love your happy body, your rich, soft voice.
Dusky butterfly, sweet and sure
Like the wheatfiled, the sun, the poppy, and the water.

[mustgetalife]

Thank you so much for your help in trying to find 'something appropriate'. Starmack - you have been very kind and it is appreciated.

[rosepetal]

I often write humourous poems for my family and friends birthdays/ weddings etc. If you'd like me to have a go at doing one for you, let me know. I'd need a couple of days and some info. re your son, the staff, funny memories etc.

Regards

[mustgetalife]

Rosepetal, that's very kind of you to offer your services. I think a personalised one would be perfect. I have absolutely no imagination at all. How can I provide you with the more personal aspects that you would require. Am I supposed to email you? or put my email addy on here? I'm not sure about the protocol?????????

[rosepetal]

I don't know about the protocol either, let's try it! My email is at yahoo.co.uk and it's kaloro. If they take it off maybe we could do it via a question we set up for our purposes! Send me a few details like funny things that have happened, any personality traits (of your son and the staff). It doesn't have to be anything too personal, you don't have to give me names or anything if you don't want. Just something I can make a few verses out of!

Fingers crossed! XX

[mustgetalife]

Thankyou so much. I have emailed the address you provided but will need confirmation that it's you before I send you any details.

In fact, I have tried myself, to do a poem. Definately wouldn't win a prize - it's dreadful but it's personalised if you know what I mean. If I hear back from you, I will send you what I've written so you can have a laugh at my expense!

[mustgetalife]

I've tried kaloro at the yahoo and received a failure notice. Can you be a bit more specific please, or email me at jackie4004b at the same place. Thanks