Haiku: Belonging

By Brian Smith

First, here is a Haiku on isolation from Haiku: One Deep Breath:

Slouching, nonchalant
my son watches others at play,
unable to approach.
-Patois

And, here is a post that includes a haiku inspired by belonging from Get Zen (the comments following are also worth the read):

children nowadays
who may have special needs
find more acceptance

I attended a special event last Fall at a local elementary school in honoring the opening of the Buddy Garden, which is a place children with special needs can participate in gardening at the school. I was amazed at how accepted and integrated these children where into the community. When I was growing up, you rarely saw children like this, they were kept behind closed doors. I'm happy this is changing. This is in gracious response to One Deep Breath. This week's topic is Belonging.

posted by get zapped at 7:53 AM
15 Comments:

Mandy said...
The son of a friend has Downs and his social life is the envy of others....
11/12/2007 9:00 AM

spacedlaw said...
Wonderful thing!
Hiding those children was never a good idea. They are so sunny!
11/12/2007 9:04 AM

Rae Trigg said...
How wonderful that children with special needs are becoming more accepted. That garden sounds like a lovely idea.
11/12/2007 9:17 AM

Crafty Green Poet said...
It is a great change, you're right!
11/12/2007 10:44 AM

susanlavonne said...
what a touching response! thank you :-)
11/12/2007 11:53 AM

Jo said...
This is so true and so right!
11/12/2007 12:44 PM

Janice Thomson said...
I used to be a MDN (Mental Deficiency Nurse) that attended kids with special needs. Most except for the bedridden ones were integrated into the schools and communities and that title is no longer in use. Nearly all the institutions are closed and I too was so amazed at how well they were accepted and cared for by the community. That's the way it should be.
11/12/2007 1:06 PM

tumblewords said...
What a lovely post! Totally inspiring!
11/12/2007 1:11 PM

paisley said...
and for that i am proud of us.....
11/12/2007 8:37 PM

Kalyan said...
a beautifully captured & composed shot...This is a lovely idea & the response is also very inspiring for these children!
11/13/2007 2:51 AM

jem said...
A valid interpretation of the prompt. I cant wait for the day when everyone and everything can enjoy a true sense of belonging in their world.
11/13/2007 4:37 AM

Lizard Princess said...
Both my husband and I work with people with special needs (he at the high school level and me in a group home) so this is a subject very dear to out hearts.
It's fascinating and sad to listen to some of my residents talk about the old days when they had to share a massive room with 50-100 other people and didn't get the kind of care they receive today. One of the ladies will talk endlessly about how very thankful she is just to have her OWN ROOM. She remembers too clearly the mistakes of our collective past.
11/13/2007 6:03 AM

qualcosa di bello said...
your haiku is *exactly* as it should be!! :)
11/13/2007 6:06 AM

polona said...
i'm glad things are changing.
well done!
11/13/2007 10:33 AM

Glad said...
This poem is so much YES!!! Thank you! And true for adults as well!
11/13/2007 10:36 AM