For Lilly
Barricaded in the backyard, we supposed you contained
before, ponytailed curls loosening,
we spotted you in the front garden.
Lilly, my Lilly, returned to the back
and safety, I watched you
make a beeline for the corner of the shed.
Foot after foot, where there is hardly
a place to put a foot down,
over briars and plastic coal bags
you eased your way, out of my reach.
I loved you, was gifted the joy of you
working it out, sure-footed, unafraid
in your space and in your own time.
Irish positive about autistic people but knowledge inadequate, survey finds
Maureen lives in Donegal Ireland where she is a teacher. Her debut collection Home was published in 2018 by Revival Press at the Limerick Writers' Centre. She tweets @maureenwcurran