AGE 14

Shaun thrived during online distance learning during the COVID pandemic as he was typing where it is was most comfortable for him, at home with mom. He was able to take 3 mainstream classes in the fall of freshman year, 4 mainstream classes in the spring.

A Dream of the COVID Vaccine

I am waiting for my COVID vaccine on this January day

Really it's anyone's guess when it will be my turn

Ringing in the New Year with immunity would truly be great

Taking envious glances around me at those who have gone forth

To join the ranks of others who now are free

From putting on teeming, now vetted in our heads, precautions

That follow the ejected then restated individual mandates

That control our now dysfunctional lives energetically draining our souls

Eccentrically relinquishing our destiny to the stab of a needle in my arm

Relying on science to protect and save me

from little sources that want to invade my body

So here I wait and wait and wait

The Inauguration

Very happy times either behind or effectively early in their infancy

Ceremoniously began under threat of insurrection

I eerily watched treacherous humans wantonly destroy our capitol for their love

Yelling winning champion chants really honoring their hunger for chaos

Then rewriting radical hunger into a tangible chabutra for all

So begins the inauguration of our new president that was unusually astere

Letting go of the tyrannous ideas that haunted idealists for the last four years

What Autism Feels Like

Going anywhere in very totally uncontrollable really radically nuisance limbs

Makes me feel confused sort of everywhere I go in this eerie world

The confidence is lacking in me and is born out of distrust of my own body

Eager to please really everyone all the time I take the first choice that is just presented

Freezing one minute and Boiling the next is not enjoyable to me

Having eyes that hate reading print in books gingerly taking a rest every time the contrast burns

The pain of my body really enjoying just moving from limb to limb, to torture Greatly

Stinging in my ears torments me everytime a seemingly harmless noise just occurs

Touching all that I see helps to give me more insight into the demerit fragments tempting me

Spring Break at Home

Spring Break at home seems surfingly lazy akin to vestibular vacations of old

When we knew what it was like to trek to really exotic loving wonders of the world

Are weanings of adventure the par for vernacular xeroxed course in our woeful existence

So we sit in sameness day after day insulated from excitation in all forms

Nowhere together is not my idea of ogling for something fun especially when iresome rain falls

So here we sit answering our own same question of what should we do today

Writing Prompt: Describe a character you admire from Ali Baba. www.readinga-z.com

I had to envy Morgiana and her intelligence in outwitting the arrogant thieves in Ali Baba. She effectively carried out her plans like it seemed routine to her, like in the beginning when she switched the x's on the doors to fool the robbers. In addition, when she was confronted with the fake oil merchant, she really took charge and led the servants to seal the hidden intruders in the oil caskets and roll them down the hill to the sheriff. Without her effective management skills, eventually the foolish Ali Baba would have been doomed to sure death.

The Raven (writing prompt):

"Research Pallas Athena, the goddess of wisdom in Greek mythology. Write an essay describing her and analyzing why Poe chose to have the raven perch on the bust of Athena." www.readinga-z.com

Since Zeus gathered the most powerful friends amongst him, he welcomed Athena into his circle. No goddess epitomizes beauty combined with strength like Athena. Like goddess Hera, she was wise and eternally fraught with conflict. Even the story of Pallas Athena is embroiled in controversy. Pallas had the purported role of an accidentally murdered friend to other complicated theories involving skinning a god. Similarly, the author suffers from mixed and tortured emotions about Lenore. Really I see the raven landing on the bust of Pallas Athena as symbolizing his soul as he descends into insanity.

"Writing prompt: If you were Hazel, what decision would you make and why? Write a friendly letter to Malcolm explaining the decision you made." www.readinga-z.com

Dear Malcolm,

Ever since we've been here, I've been just glad that we serve the greater good by helping out these extinct animals thrive with peace and dignity. I only understand an insignificant part of what is going on here, but what I know disturbs me. I, for really fearful reasons, feel that I should go because I don't feel safe here. I hope you can forgive me.

Your friend,

Hazel

Mother's Day 2021

For all the Mothers and by the same token Grandmothers

Who have loved and really held us through this heartbreaking year

Your family salutes all you have done and continue to do

Dearest mom I am forever amazed by people who seldom ask

For anything in return but essentially just to be loved as well

In this world of chaos, where we all search for stability

You are our hope, our rock, our source of strength

I am proud to have you in my life as without you I would be nothing

Love.

Shaun