My First Stage Experience
By Mark Eati
From my mother:
Mark was invited as a VIP (Very Important Poet) to an event called ‘Writers go to the Movies’ on March 7th, where Chris_Martin presented Wretches and Jabberers – a globetrotting documentary about the deep intelligence, creativity, and humor of non-speaking autistic folks. Chris shared poems by Mark. She was also on Stage with Chris and Katie Weir Bastiansen to take questions from the audience.
From Mark:
I LOVED IT A LOT!
Opening the door into a crowded theater
I carefully seated myself wondering
what the day had in store for me
Listening to my inner self saying
“It’s going to be great”
I listened intently as a loving and excited
group of visitors walked in
Greeting everyone they came across
Ordering food and drink they seated themselves
Lonely at first I heard the loving words of my teachers
as they shook hands and gently hugged me
Chris walks in later reminding me of the agenda for the day
Politely I tell him, I am ready as can be
In no time we got seated and started
We watched an amazing movie in an attempt
To understand the life of non-speaking autists
Soon enough it was time for me to walk on stage
I went up there one step at a time
Heart filling view of the audience where I sat
No one stirred in their chairs to leave
They were listening and watching with their hearts wide open
Their attention glued to the presenters on stage
Are they a loving group of people?
Do we all share similar views?
Do they respect disabilities?
Will they question my typing abilities?
Were the questions on my mind
Literature and poetry
Are not common in my family
But sitting with this group
I felt my family got bigger
Listening to an introduction
By a professor from Hamline University
I soon drifted off into joy
Hoping and praying
That they would give me an opportunity to speak
I waited alertly for a question to pierce my ears
I was soon asked a series of questions
about the movie, my abilities and my passions
Given my inability to speak
I answered the questions one letter at a time
With an uninterrupted flow from my heart
I was listening to people’s loving applause
While they asked their questions one at a time
Joy dove deeper into my heart
And it never left for the rest of the night
Joyously I asked myself
Why am I alone?
Where are the others with autism ?
Why are so many interested in this conversation?
How do we change the worldview of autism?
Why did I never see this passion in myself?
A call from my heart
Let’s start somewhere somehow
It’s time not to be lazy and lonely anymore
We can stand up for ourselves
Asking for more opportunities
To speak from deep within
