I have had my fingers burn with crimson delight,
electricity climbing nerves like a zig-zag bandit
to the top, tips glowing like thunderstorm light
proudly proclaiming desire. From there, the glow becomes
contagious, ever spreading throughout my
expanse of skin until I bloom, effulgent and dangerous –
I rage and flow inside every Cimmerian night.
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Tag Archives: autism
A Study in Color
If you see the paint on my shoes,
the imprint of color like lost angels
that slipped from brush tips, fell to Earth,
and landed, becoming color Rorschachs
upon another canvas, then know
that they are the words I lost from between lips and teeth,
accidental syllables of emerald, brick red, and azure
that flew too close to the sun.
Some land on the floor, imprinting onto my soles
once I walk across their wordless surfaces.
This Is Not Magic
I can’t explain how I do it
and when I try, I can only point you
to the canvas: there is speech which keeps
refusing to exit through lips and tongue
and insists on taking its form
as colored chansons upon a blank face –
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Threads (for Autistics Speaking Day, 2011)
We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,–
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile…
— Paul Laurence Dunbar
One might believe that there is an incongruity
within a doctor who can rescue a young toddler
playing in a sea of vomit inside of a South Indian hut
eviscerated by a village’s cholera outbreak, but yet
finds himself becoming windswept detritus tossed
from coast to coast by a stomach which demands
a constant schedule. One might place
his wide-armed compassion of raising that boy himself
and his Richter scale tremors at finding his office disturbed
as light-and-dark contrast Polaroids, and wonder
if the two men were even the same:
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The Art of Autism Exhibit: November 4 – 6, 2011
The Art of Autism Exhibit will run from November 4 – 6 at the Good Purpose Gallery in Lee, Massachusetts. Please click on the graphic below for more information and a full flyer about the event.
A short film for my poem, “Letter to My Father“, will be shown during the exhibit.
Please share/Tweet/post on FB/reblog/etc. 
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“High School Jungle” in Hyperlexia Journal
Greetings, readers!
“High School Jungle” was published in Hyperlexia Journal on Friday, October 14. It was written about my own experiences with being bullied in high school.
Hyperlexia Journal is a literary journal about the autism spectrum that publishes poetry, fiction, and personal essays. The editors of Hyperlexia seek “genuine and truthful writing about autism”.
A Day on the Spectrum: October 9, 2011
A Day on the Spectrum
October 9, 2011
The Curious Cup
Carpinteria, CA
Artists scheduled to appear include poet Sydney Edmond, visual artist Dani Bowman, and Arrest My Sister (with lead singer Scott Spiegel, who is on the spectrum) will be appearing. Click here for a flyer with more information about the exhibit.
Meet My Father.
Meet my father.
SYKE!
Actually, that is me playing my father in the video shoot for my poem, “Letter to My Father” which be submitted for the Art of Autism exhibit this November. The video was shot Sunday and is currently being edited.
And stayed tuned to my YouTube channel…the video will be uploaded there after the November exhibit.
-Nicole
The Art of Autism: Upcoming Exhibits
Hello RWP readers!
I wanted to help get the word out about several upcoming exhibits from The Art of Autism. The next edition of the book will be coming out next year. In the past, the book has featured visual art — the next edition will feature poetry as well…including one of my poems. Details to follow.
Here are each of the upcoming shows in which The Art of Autism or those featured in it will be participating:
Neurodiversity Exhibit – Artists on the Spectrum. The exhibit runs from September 19 – October 24 at the Curious Cup Bookstore in Carpinteria, CA . A book signing for artist Dani Bowman and Poet Sydney Edmond will be held on October 9 1:00 – 3:00 PM. More info and a flyer about the October 9 event here.
ARS Spectra – This exhibit opens October 27 and runs for three weeks at Soho Digital Art Gallery in Manhattan. Debra Hosseini will be holding a book signing on October 27 ay 6:00 PM and an Art of Autism entertainment show on October 28. Additionally, Esther Brokaw will be giving lecture on Savant Syndrome on October 27. More info and a flyer here.
The Art of Autism – This exhibit will run November 4, 5, and 6 at The Good Purpose Gallery in Lee, Massachusetts. Debra Hosseini will be holding a book signing November 4 and 5. There will also be an Art of Autism entertainment show — Spectrum Theater November 5. Esther Brokaw will also be giving a lecture on Savant Syndrome on November 6.
There will also be a fundraiser for the Santa Barbara Art Foundation and the Santa Barbara Library. Debra Hosseini will be holding a book signing October 9 at Gallerie 113 La Arcada in Santa Barbra on Thursday, October 6th from 5 – 8 pm and a private reception on Sunday October 9th from 2- 4 pm.
I will be part of the Art of Autism exhibit in November. Stay tuned for more details.
If you live near any of these venues, I encourage you to visit and see. Like Awe in Autism, the Art of Autism is also dedicated to showcasing the artist talents of autistic people.
-Nicole
New Video Version of “You Don’t See It” on Youtube
The newest version of the video for my poem, “You Don’t See It”, is now available on Youtube. This is the version that first aired at the April 2, 2011 Awe in Autism Live Event. Included in the video is some of my own artwork specially created for the poem. Watch below. I hope you like it.
My Poem, “A Theology of An Autistic Body” Published in qarrtsiluni
Hellow RWP Readers!
My poem, “A Theology of an Autistic Body“, was published yesterday in qarrtsiluni. You can also hear me reading the poem on the podcast for that day on its website.
Qarrtsiluni is an online journal of poetry, prose, and art which publishes themed issues each quarter, with one poem/piece of prose/piece of artwork per day during each issue. This poem was published as part of the imprisonment issue — the contributors for that issue examine the idea of confinement, either voluntarily or involuntarily. “A Theology”, for me, is a statement about the sometimes voluntarily withdrawal that I sometimes need as an adult with Asperger’s Syndrome.
So, go check it out…as well as the rest of the fine pieces in the latest issue
My Poem, “Color (A Modest Plea)” Republished at Autism and Empathy
Hey folks! My poem, “Color (A Modest Plea)” was republished at the brand new Autism and Empathy website today. The website is dedicated to busting myths and debunking the common stereotype that autistic people are incapable of empathy. Go check it out!
-Nicole
