Singing by Pablo Hernandez

Have the angels sung
For the child in the manger?

Have the shepherds come

Despite the danger?

Look at the wise men

With gifts in hand.

Finders of my Lord

In a far away land.

Kingly men, 

But worshipping him.

Humbly bow, 

Finding him at the inn.

A story that lives 

In my heart so long.

From Bible readings

And sacred songs.

I go to him and 

Find a love so profound.

A love that sees me

I can hear the sound

Of angels singing,

Of love so full,

Of the hearts rejoicing

At his loving call.

Spilling The Tea

Dear World - Dear Society,

I’m not interested in your games.

I sit and I love my life, and every day is the same.

I don’t pay attention to all you have to say.

I read, I walk, I drink my tea,

And that is my own rebellious way.

I don’t care to hear opinions and all the banter is insane.

I paint, I hear music, I drink more tea,

And that is my own rebellious way.

I’m sitting and I’m dreaming of a world without chaos and strife.

I’m giggling because this is my world, my rebellious way, my life.

By: Miller Laffoon

November 18, 2025

The Mornings Bring Pale Yellow by Aulton Grubbs

 

The morning brings pale yellow light into my room

Later and later each day

It’s like a slow motion film

It’s quiet and has soft edges

It’s a little fuzzy and feels hazy but so comfortable

I can sleep a minute more

Each day. When I dream I never wake

I open my eyes and I can tell it is fall

Lyla has learned the Fate of Ophelia and is singing it

It’s a beautiful lesson for a young woman

Elodie is still steadily breathing a calming feeling 

For her, and it gathers air into my lungs  

I notice a new light in the hall

The front door is open, caroling with the patterns

Of a changing season and a cool breeze

These sneaking wisps of sound 

Make a hymn. The girls hustle around, plant kisses

On my forehead and it’s quiet again

Mom chats with me while I get ready 

She reminds me of the date, our schedule, and reads

The weather. Last week we had a big

Ferociously glorious storm, but each day since,

Mom laments No rain today

Dad, though, rushes in and says loudly 

With relief, Aulton it is raining, come outside

I hurry, there is one tiny cloud, a soft shiny one

Right above my house. It spills over my mind,

Mists over my heart, and sprinkles 

My soul with a miracle. It only lasted a few minutes

But God made me my own cloud today

And I will never forget this goodness that

Is kindness in the form of pure water

Mind Over Emotion by Joshua Greiner

 

I’m delighted mom helps me change my thinking

I need help remembering life

Is hard, however it is human instinct

To overthink my lack

Of control. Everyone loses control sometimes

My instinct is to go back

To childhood how I 

Was bullied

God’s quiet help

Overcame his voice

Higher than the bullies

More numinous than human children

Emotions take me back

To that playground long ago

I limit my eating living in the painful past

When I’m dysregulated I hear their ridicule

Equal to hearing my own judgment 

I honestly listen longer to them 

Than to god. I need to make my mind 

Nicer to me. Mind controls emotion. 

I need to listen to god. 

No man is higher than god.

Brynn Forstner

 What I Have Noticed

A common misconception about autistics is that because of our apraxia we are non-thinking and also incapable of learning. While this subject is near and dear to my heart, I would like to bring another issue to people's attention. The condition is Chronic Lyricosis and it affects thousands, if not millions of people worldwide with no cure in sight. Chronic Lyricosis is a person's inability to identify and correctly sing lyrics to well known songs. I want to stress that these people are mentally intact and need our patience and we must remember to be respectful.

My own sister has been heard belting out "Now bring us the friggin' pudding" instead of figgy pudding throughout her childhood when singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". Sadly she is not the only one affected. Our neighbor can be heard singing ABBA's  "Dancing Queen" as "young and sweet like a tangerine". My brother thought "Sweet dreams were made of cheese" for years. It's such a shame when I hear "Living On A Prayer" changed to "living on a prairie" by my father. 

Devastating as this disorder can be, we must remain kind and support these poor souls.  Love, understanding, and acceptance are what we all need in the world. So when you hear someone singing Bob Dylan "These ants are my friends, they're blowing in the wind", remember to be kind. They don't have the same lyrical discernment that you and I have.

Sonnet by Nadia Sohn Fink

 

Hats in a thinking stance ready to shape the head

Proof of the mind’s wearer 

Letting the outside self be read

Keeps fault with the message bearer

Farthest from title the given name

Self that no pity sows

Was maker of one semblance same

Quiet title no one knows

Poor hat! Detail telling one mark

The startled start of the round sewn

Sign to make the yellow lark

Sing the lost wound gown

With one set sign the wearer torn

Takes the message never born

Thomas Callahan

 

Spring - season to sing

Rain - hope that it brings

Flowers - yellow on green

Sky - cloudy and wind

Houses - faded and dim

Streets - lonely and quiet

Spring - season to sing

Rain - hope that it brings

Shadows - sending the words to the sky above

River - flowing in my song.  How far it has gone.

Music Angels by Brielle Stewart

 

I was recently asked to provide a piece of music for a young student of classical guitar to play at The Children’s Festival at The Vero Beach Art Gallery. He is part of The Music Angels Program. As described on their website, "Music Angels Education Fund is a 501(c) non-profit organization devoted to making a difference in Indian River County by providing private music lessons to children, aged 4-17 years old, who might not otherwise have access to them due to financial limitations.” I offered my work entitled Reagan to be performed. It was written as a sixteenth birthday gift to a dear friend. Reagan is a non-speaking woman like me. It struck me, as this polite young man played my song, that a non-speaker made this art for another non-speaker, and now an entirely speaking audience was enjoying it. I always tell my mother that it is more important to me that people know a non-speaker composed the work, rather than them knowing my name. I want others to know that non-speakers are capable of contributing meaningfully to the arts. After the performance I was treated as a composer and loving people waited to speak to me respectfully. I was not invited to participate out of pity. I made a spot for myself with hard work. Composing with my board is labor intensive, but it is my life’s joy. Inclusion in this event made me feel so embraced by my community. I am happy to live in a free thinking place where there were no barriers to my participation.

Dandelions by Arth S.

 Painting and poem by Arth S.

Creased seasons in August songs

Freezed stories all summer long

Can dandelions sing and dance

As spring comes, is there a chance?

Dearest memories forget me not

All I've read and calmly bought

There's a place where dandelions sing

Where they are loved and specially sought.

Peace

Peace always ends up

being canceled

when ego is greater

than love.

Nothing matters more than 

touching the souls

of the weakest. 

Ryan Shank-Rowe (23)

 

The Sensory Ecosystem of February 2025

 

By Luke Schneider, 18 

 

Nature has a way of speaking about birds, trees and the soil. 

This is my Sensory Ecosystem 

For instance, do you know the Loon? 

This North American bird is mostly active at dusk. 

Their long, haunting call says, “I’m here, where are you?” 

Their partner returns, “I’m over here.” 

 

Trees offer us forest bathing and the benefits of the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, which means sensory relaxation by connecting with the forest.  Here we communicate with trees without words. Did you know that trees talk to each other through their scents?  

Our sensory ecosystems come alive! 

 

Now, for the soil that fertilizes our senses and offers texture to our movement – it is this soil that gives strength and connects us all -birds, trees and humans –  and this completes our Sensory Ecosystem. 

 

(This reflection has been inspired by this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ENNzjy8QjU 

 of the Loon and the books Hidden Life of Trees, and Braided Sweetgrass) 

Breathe. (A chant poem)

 

By Sasha Rainer

Tomorrow stronger than today,

Tomorrow morning

to replay,

Tomorrow story starts anew,

Tomorrow morning

me and you.

Today the troubles set aside,

Today love strides on our side,

Today we regulate ourselves,

Today put worries on the shelves.

Group Poem-Thanksgiving Address

Inspiration from Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Miller: We turn our thoughts to Sarah, our incredible book club host who wonderfully brings us all together each week.

Aiden: We turn our thoughts to the family who loves us and the friends who are there for us.

Brielle: We turn our thoughts to how powerful we are. By loving our friends and family we change the world.

Jack H.: We turn our thoughts to nature, beautiful and true, light and life giving, a serene comfort that gives abundantly.

Cole: We turn our thoughts to all of the trees, they provide shade, food and shelter

Nadia: We turn our thoughts to winter sun, cold and bright as a white reindeer. Prancing winter, dancing light to our cold noses and toes. Let’s give sun our reindeer blessings.

Thomas: We turn our thoughts to prayer.  Prayer reminds me to be thankful.

Pablo: we turn our thoughts to friend.s they love kindly when we need words to make us feel like we belong. they find the good in us and make us want to be better.

Aulton: We turn our thoughts to the ranch. It's a culmination of desert and mountains. Seventy horses live there. They live and are born there, like sweet Peaches, who I met two hours after her birth. They live and die there, like Jazzy, who still has my heart.  The ranch is man-made, but It is their home. I'm grateful to share, it, life and nature with them.

Sasha: We turn our thoughts to the world of flowers. The world that toss a lovely beauty on sorrow of the soul. The world that heals the body and mind. The world that is silent to our ears, yet not so silent if we would listen carefully.

Liam: We turn our thoughts to the beaches for they keep the ocean working; sometimes the moon helps too. They make the water pure, salty and pristine. Now our minds are one.

Arth: We turn our thoughts to all the poets and artists in the world. Who express their untamed, stunning minds. It's a wonderful loving gift to the world.

Brynn: We turn our thoughts to education opportunities for women in this country. We are free to educate ourselves withou fear. We are free to go to the library and request books, magazines, dvds, and use computers to learn anything

Ryan W.: We turn our thoughts to all the trees.  They are beautiful and provide shade when it is hot or raining.  They provide shelter from the strong winds. Trees are a refuge for birds and squirrels when they make their nests.  I am grateful to be in nature.

Luke: We turn our thoughts to community and all that brings us together  - including trees, plants, animals and people.

      Now our minds are one.  

Group Poem by Our Speller's Bookclub

  

Miller: Trees blowing in the sun and soft wind                                                             

Brynn: Blazing stars have me mesmerized

Brielle: Devon, I send you the image of a mother manatee swimming with her baby quietly. They are quiet like us.

Nadia: Water rolling over rocks. Rolling rolling

Sasha: Calming beach. Worry-free white sand with tall palm trees and a stunning look of the ocean.

Luke: like the tree of life because it has deep roots and the birds in my backyard - they r resilient and beautiful

Thomas: A beautiful sunset bringing hope for a new day. 

Aulton: I will picture a beautiful tree standing so tall and firm in nature. It's mycelium is a secret, but its power. The bark looks plain, but is its protection and is shielding nutrients. The branches search out the sun and drink the rays. I find it and lie beneath its shade for a rest and peace. The leaves rustle softly and I notice dimension and countless shades of green in the perfect structure of a grand tree. 

Fox: Best one is in the forest, it's green everywhere. Petals of bright colours are sprinkled in the green. The wind is blowing so everything is moving. 

 Aiden: Think of grass swaying 

Moritz: My image is of some lovely rurus  (owls) sitting in a tree at night, they are calling out you so that you are feeling safe 

Luke: cardinals and blue birds and woodpeckers! 

Pablo: I would think of the pond (from the book). So much hard work , so many problems , but she had a goal.  Maybe it was not perfect, understanding came with time, feelings changed. It was hard, then it was peaceful and she did the work with love

          

Unwanted Visitor at the Red Light by Aiden Levy

 

 

His putrid stench fills my nose and makes my eyes water.

He grabs my intestines, squeezes my lungs. 

Inescapable, unavoidable, his reek robs me of my appetite. 

I long for the light to turn. 

Loathsome sulfur knows no boundaries, shows no mercy.

How do the farmers tolerate his repulsion?

I wish for the pleasant banality of an odorless voyage, but the road trip has just begun.

Time crawls in his foul presence, seconds stretch into centuries, the red light showing no pity. 

Finally, sweet merciful green. 

We speed off, leaving him to hijack another victim.

Hours left to go.