Serena Malcolm

#NaPoWriMo Day Two

Today’s prompt was to write a poem which transforms the natural world into an unsettled dream-place. I have loosely followed this prompt and combined it with #WorldAutismAwarenessDay, which is also today, creating a poem from the perpective of a child with autism. I hope I have done some small justice to what is an incredibly complex but important topic.

 

Swing

squeak
grind
screech

wind blows a leaf
past my cheek
sandpaper
rustling trees
clanging
discordant
cutlery
as the canopies
encroach on me
evil fingers
reach for me

squeak
grind
screech

whispers
scream
laughter
thunders
echoing

sky starts to spin
carousel of fluffy things
socks
inside a final spin

squeak
grind
screech

as I swing
dizzy
panting
try to dull
the colours
of the
summer
crystal shards
are harrowing
eyes are narrowing
tears
that sting
acid skin

squeak
grind
screech

mama’s voice
is comforting
smell of
peaches
dampening
the squeak grind screech
is dimmed
now simmering
on the midday
breeze

breathe
sigh
peace?