War and Peace

Published on by silenteblog2 Comments

10-17-25

Bullets in borrowed boundaries

Soldiers all around me











I look and believe, what I see is war





But this is not what it seems 















I am still asleep





I am unable to speak





I am books of thoughts inside me





I am at peace 















But buried between those thoughts





Begins a loss of grandpas and their wars fought 















Beneath my silence brought a sadness 





and then “be brave” came like a wave 





Because of what they sacrificed and gave















So that I could sleep at ease 















But their lives were forever changed





Buried deep, the memories they keep 





Loud and brief with unbent grief 















Years of weary wealth of unspoken scenes





Relived with all they have seen 





Beneath their nightly dreams





A loss of youth, ended in the name of peace 















And I am grateful for war that ends





But wish for war that never begins 
















			
		

	
	



			
				



	
	

		
		
Because Of Love

				

			Published on  by silenteblogLeave a comment		

			



			


			

3-9-25





This is a world owed with nothing left to know 





a person and a quote with nowhere left to go





Being, all alone he sought wonder, to be known 





His heart wants a home he can’t remain an unknown 





Would being another soul someone to have, to hold





Wake me more lovable? Would it make me more huggable?










Open me up empty





Or bring love plenty





Because of love, because of love,





Love would be enough 





One day began with an outstretched hand





Beautiful love, who knew a way to open him up 





Who loved because being love 





And becoming love will always be enough





Was this empty person empty, or in need of love plenty?





Opening a being begins with love seeing










Open me up love





Or fill up





Because of love, because of love,





Love is enough





With epic bliss and an unspoken gift





That wonder became his the world became, began, begun, his wish





He’s no longer unknown with no place to go





His heart has a home because his love was grown 





His soul song hidden in the notes sung aloud and sometimes spoke 





He wants the world to know we are so much more than our quotes










When beauty opens up 





The beginning of love





We are enough and you are loved





Because the love given to us





Was more than enough 





We are because of love 





Because of love, because of love,





Love is enough







			
		

	
	



			
				



	
	

		
		
Song Writing

				

			Published on  by silenteblogLeave a comment		

			



			


			

Looking back over my weekend my heart is so full of love and new friends, opening not only my eyes and worth, but also my dreams and future. I am looking forward to a future of hearing more songs I write sung. 





When I experienced words of my song beginning to end in person, being sung the first time, courage and hope filled my heart to overflowing. Words are already being put together in my head for another song. What opened in me began with a lot of love at Speller’s Camp. The poem my song was birthed from began there and was brought to music at Speller’s Song Writing Camp by Brian Laidlaw. Being able to hear words I wrote, read or sung, makes an enormous statement in my life.





Love can truly move mountains. 




		

			
 

			
			
		

		



@Autistically Inclined – (Spellers And Song Writing Camps)


			
		

	
	



			
				



	
	

		
		
Eclipse

				

			Published on  by silenteblog1 Comment		

			



			


			






Up and bright our sun sits in the sky
open to a glimpse blown out of proportion
we are but passersby in the story of its life





Down below we sit
we await a total solar eclipse





Booking our exclusive looking
We open our protective glasses 
Beneath, our eyes wonder what will happen





Would I see this one, or be the one, 
to actually be unable to see?





Boundaries of endless borders
Unusual cool escape
One open country farm
Before us a dramatic sky
Upwards we seek
Born of a chance to meet
Beauty upon blinding pursuit





Both sun and moon our eyes watched
A darkened sky
Our thoughts
The cows confused began to moo
When everyone saw, I did too!





When the best part of a solar eclipse
was where we were, and who we were with, 
and how it felt,
We post a picture, video, and words.
But the story unheard
was the presence of wealth.
What I have to tell
Was not about a circle of light
That day the moon turned our day to night.





Love was all over that land, 
from grandpa’s very hands,
to grandma’s words and fishing love.
The stories worthy of never ever giving up,
because we opened up the place,
where many memories are already made
including what we did that day.





We quietly were embraced,
by all that is and all that was.
While watching the moon share with us
a polite passing, a gentle hug.












			
		

	
	



			
				



	
	

		
		
Perspective

				

			Published on  by silenteblogLeave a comment		

			



			


			

Open eyes, open earth.
Open blinding open words.
Open everywhere tomorrow’s birth 
all around me a brand new worth.

I am a brand new man!
A brand new man with a written plan.
Opening a whole other self.
Opening brighter futures, a positive wealth.
A golden offering to each day.
A promise, of a brand new way.

Each of our opposing oppositions are only what we allow them to be. 
Opposing beauty of all who seek.
A life of ownership of your lost speech.
A blatant escape of your enemy.
Only expressing all of your defeats 
you open your eyes you see, 
as easily as others speak,
and what you weren’t expecting was quite possibly a quiet complete.
Both won’t open because you already have all you need,
and all you seek 

is a possibility to become, a brand new you.
We are all full of wonder and blues,
of unfinished bounty and untold truths.
Would you read courageously what I am saying to you?

You appreciate what is you and what is me
And all the love everyone needs 
Open your eyes up and be 

God’s love 
With a gentle hug 

From a blind man without speech,
who sees you and wants to say,
when I love you and you me,
we all see,
perspective in the irony.









			
		

	
	



			
				



	
	

		
		
Spellers Camp Swing

				

			Published on  by silenteblog2 Comments		

			



			


			

Bold challenges open up beginnings of quiet opportunities I didn’t know existed, but now that I do I escape in my thoughts, reflecting on those moments as they were at the time and as they become a part of who I am. Each detail of my experience brings a special memory back to feel all over again, beginning with the waiting and ending with stepping off the ladder. 

Could you come with borrowed peace and bring a friend with you to see through a world of love and a world of hope? Bring a lot of open thoughts because Spellers Camp begins with open minds, hearts and brave escape. Body and mind connections are made here as well as friends. Escape begins with open thoughts and expression, with words being spoken aloud through others’ voices. “Communication Partners”, words voiced on others’ lips bringing life to our words.  Well, easy to say but it can take a lot of time to spell your words out through pointing on a letterboard,  keyboard, or writing. Open your thoughts this way sometime and you will see how frustrating being a speller in a speaker’s world can be. 

Being around other people with words coerced one letter at a time becomes empowering. Comfort sometimes comes from others who have been through similar paths and are opening up new lives too. When we are all in one space at one time looking for a new path to take, our voices become stronger together. Cool, calm and collected, with a bit of perspective, I made the decision to take on the challenge of the swing. Waiting for my turn took awhile but was not wasted time because bright potential was being born. 

Courage can show in many different ways. Letting it out can be one of those ways. Another can be opening a challenge, worried about the outcome before you ever begin, but overcoming that worry. Yet another can be just doing something without understanding that others perceive what you did as courageous. When you are courageously embracing your life with expectations of making everything count, you don’t upset your goals by missing an opportunity offered, you take it. Both taken and missed experiences will always be memories that make up who you are. 

When you wear fear on your brain, all things you set out to do can become scary and will make you awkwardly unwavering in anxious thoughts. Anxiety can keep what you want to do from happening. Not everything in autism that looks like anxiety is. When you have autism, sometimes your brain can’t connect with your body to do what you really want it to do. Looking at the situation from a perspective of a typical speaking person, they may see it as anxiety, but what we call it is a mind-body disconnect. A few of my new friends expressed through spelling that they really wanted to do the swing. The coaches began coaching them in a way that opens their ability to control the body, breaking through the disconnect, and setting them free. Everyone may not have made it to the swing, but all who tried, conquered. When they accomplished a goal, I found it to be one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever been a part of. Love becomes food for the soul and it was a full feeling.

When I heard the word “swing” I thought of all the swings I have known but the description I heard didn’t match any I knew. Because I am blind I usually rely on details to open a picture in my head, but most of what is described isn’t as useful to me as touching, smelling and listening. Looking doesn’t provide as much information for me as my other senses do. 

As I waited, because they had a list and I was way down that list, each person’s experience was heard, felt, and described especially well and I became more relaxed about what was taking place. Each bright opportunity became what the owner of the moment wanted it to be, opening about each of their own dreams as they took their turn on the swing. The crowd would cheer them on with encouraging words peacefully bringing possibility by their positivity. Being in this space with my new friends was an experience like none I have ever had before but I hope for more in my future. 

My turn finally came. I was given a step by step accounting of my place in line and when I was a few people from going on the swing a body coach began helping me with my harness. When I was up she escorted me to the ladder. Before I climbed the ladder coaches began explaining what was about to take place. Opening up the swing was done by pulling a cord at my shoulder. I was given the instructions on how to release myself and shown the motor plan for how to do it. I was able to do it but we had a back up plan which would be put in to play if I couldn’t pull the cord when up in the air. In consideration of my wishes they would count down to give me a minute to prepare before dropping. 

Walking people to the ladder was something they had been doing all day but somehow they made me feel very unusually special. Not the kind of special that can make you feel broken but the kind you feel when you are loved and being embraced. Being loved like that will open up borders and move mountains. But in my case, it just moved me up the ladder and brought me to an understanding of how much love could bring us together in our world, if we could love everyone as thoroughly as my new friends do. 

On the ladder love was my wealth and it bought me a whole lot of fun. Up I went being pulled by every person one at a time and altogether. I got to the top and welcomed the sun as it was letting out beautiful yellow light so bright over the sky I could not ignore it. Pouring sunlight, with a yellow that shone with a worthiness of being seen up above the top of the trees, just like me. This moment was so powerful that I forgot to pull the cord or even how. Loud counting began lively and welcoming years of boredom to fly away on “five”. Only for a brief second, unusual for me, a bit of fear surfaced. When we allow ourself to unearth our experience, grounding our trust, our momentum gains rhythm completing what we pursue, encompassing what we set out to do. Dropping on “five” was expected but having never done this before I really didn’t know until breaking free and dropping, what began so coolly could be both quite scary and wonderful all at once. As I began with a more stable swinging movement, becoming one with the swing, I was entirely washed with the beginning of wishes worthy of writing over wordless lips. Loose like bright wishes broken free, swinging over the ground over the woods and out in the world.

Wishes, worth, and wonder. Would you have believed what a swing at Spellers Camp could mean for a silent man like me?










http://www.autisticallyinclined.com (Spellers Camp) 





http://www.KatherineAndrewsPhoto.com 

















			
		

	
	



			
				



	
	

		
		
Paper Friends

				

			Published on  by silenteblogLeave a comment		

			



			


			






by Austin McClendon





Would you step over here and ease on through, open your hearts, and then your eyes? 










We are Paper Friends 










Would you let me open a world of wonder to you





and plow light through?





Allowing words to show you





what a paper world so simple and complete,





has done for Timothy.










Beside a boy and his family the love begins unspoken, 





a bond of open emotions, 





with a love poured out of devotion. 





When we share our words 





often unheard 





our deeper emotions 





can create waves of love that would fill the oceans.










We began celebrating writing our stories. 





Our words began to paint the scene. 





We opened them up and began to peruse, 





onward and through. 










Would you look at me? 





Upside down below the tree





with my words no longer hiding inside of me. 





With pages open that you can read, 





writing as others speak. 










Able to share.










Would you begin, 





bringing a wish and your grin, 





walk on over and step on in. 





Opening a journey of boys and girls 





traveling through our paper world. 





We have our stories here for you. 










Would you walk with me to the tree, 





the one you can barely see, 





blending into the scene. 










Watching books unfold 





wanting his stories told. 





Writing boys and girls a beautiful new world. 





Paper, pens, worlds and gems,





Come on in. 










We could escape the pages 





and travel for ages. 





We should probably start 





with the looking part. 





Would you open your eyes wide 





and empty your mind, 





allowing these words to be opening verse, 





of our world on paper?










On open wishes, promises, and sight, 





I bring to you a paper delight. 





Our world has been brought to you by paper, pens 





and our words within. 





_____________________










*Note to my readers,





Because I have autism words are hidden inside of me but they found a way out years ago. Books and stories are still working on their turn. 





Paper Friends is what I call people like me. We have so much stored inside to share but escaping is a time consuming process. Lots of ebb and flow allowing me to create and develop open thoughts takes place but the reward is something I can share with others. 





Books can be written and I am writing them. One I have been writing has a poem about Paper Friends in it. Celebrating autism month I would like to share it with you. 


			
		

	
	



			
				



	
	

		
		
World of Boys

				

			Published on  by silenteblogLeave a comment		

			



			


			

Books of worlds, worlds of books, boys and girls our story begins with 










World of Boys










World of boys plopping around 





Brows of boldness borrowing ground















There are bright new beginnings





when you open a book










Beneath the tree 





that’s oft overlooked 










Good books are quite the find





Unless looking for one around borrowed time 










Beneath boredom and trees you’ve climbed





Are stories of mine 










When a portal is opened work becomes bright 





Opening up worlds and this boy’s life 










Looking to see 





but writing to speak 










A world of books sitting around





courageously waiting to be bound










Creative boy you are winning!





Where should I start? 





I guess  the beginning   










World of boys upside down





Writing to say there’s a book on the ground 





We can open it up, looking to read,





or I could climb that gigantic tree





and hang with you from my feet.










While in his head he clearly said





the words you just read.  But he couldn’t speak,





so all they heard was “eee eee eee”.










He escaped beneath that enormous tree





and opened the book he hoped to read.





But when he opened up the book





He looked and looked but could not believe,





there was nothing there,nothing to see.





Brown covers with white pages simply 





Free of words, completely empty.










So he picked that book up, and with the pen he took up,





he began to write.










On open wishes, promises and sight, 





I leave this book lost and bright 





and preparing, quite possibly, a story to write.





Please be patient with me





I’m looking for insight.










When I return quietly words will reveal





a boy, a purpose, and a gift that’s real. 










When he returned to the tree





Would you believe










Boy looked down 





and on the ground 










Beneath the leaves 





Below that tree





Last seen when he was four foot three





Was the book 





lost and incomplete





Lying at his feet










Weathered by both storms and life





Boy took his pen and began to write.


			
		

	
	



			
				



	
	

		
		
To Milo

				

			Published on  by silenteblogLeave a comment		

			



			


			

Will you open the words with written worlds





Of boys and girls?





With a look inside a book





Your wonder will be carried away.





So that one day,





When your hair is gray,





When the children say





“Will you please tell me





A wonderful story”,





Their words will remind you of worlds of magical,





Upside down and theatrical





Times you had with Hagrid





And a boy who was gifted with magic.





And you will remember what it was





To be filled with love,





And that books were enough





Until that time when you snuggled





Words not uttered from a Muggle!





But a story was told





By a Poppa who was bold,





And as you rested your head





Those words he said





Would open your eyes





To a whole new life.





And in that moment you would realize





The gift inside a man so wise





That should be shared





With those who care.





And you will begin





Telling stories, like him.





Love,





Uncle Austin










I wrote this poem for my nephew Milo last Christmas. I especially love him and his love for books is something I share with him. Who doesn’t love a good story?





When he was younger I remember the first time he heard a bedtime story from his Poppa. Wonder and excitement lit his voice opening his mind to a special gift we will all pass along .







			
		

	
	



			
				



	
	

		
		
Writing My Sister

				

			Published on  by silenteblogLeave a comment		

			



			


			

With all my heart, written with 





An open wish





Of love and happiness





To my sis.










You are the warmth of promise brightly lit





With words of writing your expressive gift.










When I think of you, I see





So much personality










Dressed with charm and intelligence.





Your witty words, with engaging quips,





Keep me listening for the next twist.










With this final thought:





I  simply love you, a lot.










-Austin