Gifts from Others
This is a collection of writings from friends: from people who knew Jeffrey or relate to Jeffrey and others with autism..
Those who see more than the surface, the expected social interactions: those who see the soul.
Happy Birthday from Jenée
Happy birthday, dear Jeffrey
Wherever you are
Whether in the stars
Or in the beautiful fluffy clouds I saw last night
I wanted to visit them
Pink and billowy with rays of light shining from behind
In a red and yellow sunset sky
I thought of you
I saw your smile
I saw your little hands that I held when you were a little boy
You would take me to your swingset
You loved to swing
I saw your eyes sparkling with happiness
I saw you barefoot on your red bike in the summertime
Your eyes pensive, yet still sparkling
You were careful and strategic on your bike
So smart, so handsome
I saw you jumping and laughing
I wanted to jump and laugh too
Your laughter was the contagious kind
Your joy was healing
When I saw your smile, my troubles were gone
When I heard your giggles, my worries left me
I will remember your joy
I will remember your smile, dear Jeffrey
You will not be forgotten
You are loved
You OK
❤️
-Jenée Latia Blanco
July 10, 2024
Jenée and Jeffrey in Thomas.
__________________
Un Silence assourdissant
Un silence assourdissant
Dans la lumière de ton regard
Dans l’espace où l’instant de l’âme se pose
Vivifiant d’amour insoutenable, tu es présent
Dans le bleu dans le vert, dans les couleurs, toutes les couleurs il y a ton nom
Et puis
L’absence du sujet, du complément, du mot qui apaise et qui soutient
Un silence assourdissant baigné de lumière
Dans l’encadrement de la fenêtre se pose le monde
Et dans le tien l’absence remplie de toi
Dans ce jeu d’arbre et de vent, tes cheveux
Et la fenêtre brille
D’un soleil libre
Dans les oiseaux du ciel tu regardes leurs chants et écoute le son de leurs ailes
Devant la fenêtre ton monde, celui d’un intime silencieux
Silence et bruit, couleurs de sons et sons de couleurs
Un intime dans lequel se niche mon amour et pleure de bonheur ou de joie
Pleure tout simplement, de ne pas pouvoir ouvrir la fenêtre
Juste le soleil derrière, et plus loin le rugissement du monde
C’est une absence infinie dans cette niche d’amour et de bleu
Remplie de toi
Creusée loin du monde insoutenable, vivant d’avidité et de violence
Tu es libre dans l’absence et absent dans la liberté
Pour Jeffrey, Fred, et tous ceux qui souffrent d’autisme et dont les proches les aiment tellement.
Katia Fleming
3 August 2024
Katia and Fred in the Jardin des Plantes
A deafening silence
In the light of your gaze
In the space or moment when your soul appears
Brought to life by an unbearable love, you are present
In the blue and in the green, in colors, all the colors are your name
And then
The absence of the subject and the complement, the word that soothes and sustains
A deafening silence bathed in light
In the frame of the window exists the world
And in yours the absence filled with you
In the play of the tree in the wind, your hair
And the window glows
In a carefree sunlight
In the birds of the sky you watch their songs and listen to the sound of their wings
In front of the window of your world, that of a quiet confident
Silence and noise, colors of sound and sounds of colors
An intimate in whom my love nestles and cries of happiness or joy
Cries simply to not have the power to open the window
Just the sunlight behind you, and farther away, the roar of the world
It is an infinite absence in this niche of love and blue
Dug far from the unbearable world, teeming in greed and violence
You are free in this absence and absent in this freedom.
For Jeffrey, Fred, and all who suffer with autism and who are so loved by those close to them.
__________________
A star to the stars
on a flight I wish was delayed
I knew him, but I wanted more
I wanted my son to know him too
I tried but never had the strength
to hug him, like true brothers do
My son almost got him to play
I wish it’d happened on that day
“let it give some time to brew”
that’s for the best, my mind would say
but if it really was that way
why that memory stings today
‘cause he gave me an angel vibe
a heart of gold, with love untold
fought for babies when they cried
pure as a breeze, nothing to hide
I’m sorry that I hugged you not
I regret to shy when had the chance
dance, my brother wherever you are
beyond the clouds, amongst the glow
you’re the truest one I could ever know
A star to the stars
on a flight I wish was delayed
Kinshuk Sharma
July 4, 2024