For Ean

The world through my autistic son's eyes

For Ean

He sat down next to me

On the front porch just last night

With a pad and pen in his hand

Under the summer's moon light

Just yesterday he was born

And tomorrow comes too soon

But for just this night in time

We'll sing our songs to the moon


The morning brings out matchbox cars

And cartoons all day long

He collects his thoughts and laughter

Into life's long beautiful song

But when the sun goes down and the stars come out

We'll sit outside and croon

The melody that is my son's life

While we sing our songs to the moon


I hold him close and keep him safe

From a world that won't understand

What it is to be born different

Than all the other grains of sand

Both his childhood and I myself

Will pass from his sight too soon

But while I'm still here and he's still small

We'll sing our songs to the moon


-James M. Tilson

June 6, 2014