in my own words

I came across the greatest poem ever today while reading for my Counseling Exceptional Students and their Families class. Just a few of my favorite snippets, since the poem itself is an entire page long:

I go to school with a boy named Lanz,

And he’s autistic and he’s big and can be annoying at times…

Hell he may be socially awkward, but why yell at him for what he cannot control.

His scars may not be visible to the naked eye,

But I know words like “Retard,” “Slow,” and “Stupid” do open deep wounds.

But, Lanz, he is beautiful in his retort.

And while he may whine for a while, he’ll eventually forgive and smile

And call them friend once again.

——

People treat Lanz less than he is worth, less than human,

Yet he keeps smiling,

Keeps genuinely smiling his contagious smile.

His ability to be happy is his magic.

Lanz places his happiness in people, yet he is not dependant on people.

He teaches me how to forgive and smile on a daily basis

And that, to me, is magic.

-A Poem by His 12th-Grade Classmate, Families, Professionals, and Exceptionality Sixth Edition