Flamingo Literary Issue Two, April 2020 Cover ©Noah Loo Interior Design ©Liz Wride
Flamingo Literary Email: flamingoliterary@gmail.com WordPress: www.flamingolit.wordpress.com Twitter: @FlamingoLit Instagram: @Flamingoliterary
©Copyright of all individual stories and writers remains with the author and artists.
Editor’s Letter
Welcome to Issue 2! When we started this magazine, we wanted it to be a space for unique creative talent. We wanted it to be a place where artists were free to express themselves and show us their unique view on the world. Our call for submissions for Issue 2 asked for autistic artists (and/or their families) to submit their creative work to us. We received art and poetry from across the globe. To everyone who submitted their work, we are very grateful that you chose Flamingo Literary as a place for your pieces! Welcome to the Flamingo Flock! We’re excited to showcase the work of award-winning artist Noah Loo, in this issue. He painted the cover image exclusively for us (look out for more of his artwork within this issue). We’d like to congratulate Noah on his ‘Creative Arts and Media Award’ at the 2019 Autism Hero Award! We’d also like to thank Hazel Lim for her exclusive flamingo watercolour! (Virtually) flick through the magazine, follow our talented writers and artists on twitter, and let us know what you think of our second issue! Best wishes,
Contributors Hayley Morgan Frozen first appeared on Cold Tea Connoisseur, here: https://www.coldteaconnoisseur.co.uk/single-post/2018/04/05/Poem-Frozen
Hayley Morgan writes about her experiences as a late-diagnosed autistic woman, wife to an autistic man and Mum to a 5-year-old on the diagnostic pathway. Living in an almost entirely autistic extended family, Hayley’s writing is often inspired by her ‘autistic bubble’. On her final year of Swansea University’s MSc Autism and Related Conditions, Hayley also delivers seminars on autism education for AutSide Education and Training around South Wales. You can contact her: @HayleyMorganAut hayleymorgan_aut@outlook.com
Bethan Bethan's drawing is one of her favourite subjects, Ludwig Bemelmans Adventures of Medeline. Bethan is 14 years old and has autism and learning difficulties. She loves to draw.
Matt I am Matt and I am sixteen years old. The poem is the best one I have ever written and every person that I know loves it. I intend writing some more. I am non-verbal and write on my letterboard. I am very proud that my poem is being published.
Ariyana Evans Ariana Evans, Age 11. Ariana has high functioning autism and has always had a keen interest in drawing since she was very young. She is very interested in Japanese anime and regularly creates characters which she then creates stories around. When younger her Mum helped to teach her to draw, but she has now chosen her own style and thoroughly enjoys creating characters new characters and stories
Ceri Dobbing Ceri Donbing has provided us with poetry for Issue 2. We are proud to showcase her work.
Eddie Cassidy Eddie Cassidy is a Swansea-based artist. The 21 year old uses a variety of media to create bold and colourful artwork. Inspired by his own experiences in nature and his sensory interpretations. Paired with memories of favourite books as a child, this creation entitled “Mr Tickle” is one of Eddie’s personal favourites. Eddie also enjoys listening to music to gain further inspiration whilst creating his artwork, especially cello covers of current pop songs. A keen unicyclist, gardener and gymnast Eddie's outlook on life is one filled with passion and determination. It is his hope to one day display his artwork in an exhibition - watch this space!!!
Sara Lawler I’m Sara (Sarah without the h) | Muddling autistic ma | part time pal | carer | ex marketeer | the most recent of this autism rich family to be diagnosed, in September 2017. I’ve been at home since 2014 supporting my family towards their own autonomous future, ready and able to share reflections on our combined 98 (and counting) years’ lived experience of being autistic including my own 30 years’ experience working as a then unknowingly undiagnosed autistic employee in a range of roles from part time, secretarial to senior managerial. I leak thoughts sometimes at anaffinitywitha.blogspot.co.uk & into other social channels. ‘S is for…’ first appeared in ‘An Affinity with A’: http://anaffinitywitha.blogspot.com/2019/09/
Hazel Loo Hazel Loo has provided us with an exclusive Flamingo WaterColour. Hazel Loo was also a finalist of the ‘People’s Autism Award’. Hazel has recently been shortlisted or the National Autistic Society’s Autism Professionals Awards for the ‘Someone Who Changed My Life Award’.
Kate Garrett Kate Garrett is a writer, witch, mama, and folk drummer who sometimes haunts 450 year old houses (as a heritage volunteer). Her work is widely published online and in print, and has been nominated for Best of the Net, the Pushcart Prize, and longlisted for a Saboteur Award. She is the author of several pamphlets, most recently To Feed My Woodland Bones (Animal Heart Press, 2019) and one full-length collection, The saint of milk and flames (Rhythm & Bones Press, 2019). Her next book, A View from the Phantasmagoria, is due out in October 2020 from Rhythm & Bones Press. She lives halfway up a hillside in Sheffield, England. www.kategarrettwrites.co.uk"
Ali Gilligan Ali Gilligan is a 14 year old artist living in County Galway, Ireland. With a passion for drawing and writing, she is currently working on her first graphic novel. Ali is on the autistic spectrum and likes to use her creativity to help dispel any preconceived ideas people may have about living with autism
Heathar Ashley Barrett I am Heathar Ashley Barrett and I am 32 years old. I have endured the delights of ‘special’ education and so called inclusion within mainstream. However where I felt valued and understood was University. I graduated University of Bolton with a negotiated studies degree in 2011 after 7 years of study. I chose modules in Community Studies, English Literature and Education. In addition to achieving a 2:1, I also received the Dean’s award for outstanding achievement. I enjoy being creative and writing poems and creating video poems to share online. I also enjoy history and culture and love visiting National Trust properties, art galleries and museums. I see Quiet Riot as a movement of empowering people silenced by society. We are here to allow people to hear us, listen to our words and appreciate us as intelligent human beings. Heathar now lives independently supported by a team of committed Personal Assistants who enable Heathar to achieve all her dreams.
Noah Loo Noah Loo has provided numerous pieces of art for this issue (we are honoured to showcase his talent within these pages) including the exclusive front cover for Issue 2! We’d also like to congratulate Noah on his ‘Creative Arts and Media Award’ at the 2019 Autism Hero Award! More information about the Autism Hero Awards can be found here: https://www.annakennedyonline.com/the-autism-hero-awards-2019/
Frozen Thrusting the tongue to resuscitate words Like pulling spinach out of the sink Eyes apologetically appealing ‘Fill in the gaps’ Breath gone Not aloof, passive or odd, but an understudy Desperately proving ambivalence Rehearsed in a second language Lamenting my mother tongue Mirror for survival Irretrievable, unwanted decorum lost to the senses Lips rescue the face, protesting synapses Mind screaming expectations Inescapable noisy light Mouth curling passively Forceful air seeks words for an acceptable communion Sacrificing impulses to manifest mutuality Mumbling, makeshift connections Unmasking resisted Play on Eyes narrow to mimic a synthetic smile Restless soul betrayed for now Daily dance of gestures complete Body slumps to a ‘sorry’... ‘Do you have a points card?’
Hayley Morgan Frozen first appeared on Cold Tea Connoisseur, here: https://www.coldteaconnoisseur.co.uk/single-post/2018/04/05/Poem-Frozen
Ludwig Bemelmans’ Adventures of Madeline
Bethan
Haunting ideas go round my mind I don’t understand what I might find Lost in the brain my words hide My remembering and language stay inside
Matt
Ariyana Evans
It is being captivated and enthralled in the immediate diving and delving into the deepest of thoughts. It is skipping, hand in hand, along and around the tangents, happy to be led, up or down or round and round. It's about the connection between two explorers, hand in hand , going all around the houses, and bungalows too. No need to fluffy-up conversation to tip-toe and navigate the awkwardness that is pleasantries, niceties or weather talk. It's a matter of delving deep and bearing ones inner most thoughts, interests, intrigue, and soul. It is the instant connection, of knowing your own, and feeling safe and home. It is trusting, and letting go of one's insecurities. No need to fear. Go on, be brave. You've spent too long hiding behind the mask. Take the time, let go and silence the damaging internal narrative.
But
"They're going to realise I'm stupid. They're going to realise I've been winging it all along. They're going to realise that actually I don't know anything. They're going to realise I'm thick. There it is that word 'thick'. They're going to realise I'm the imposter in the room". Stop. Stop this now. Blacken the void of thoughts, visualise it, blank out the narrative. Let it go. You're safe. Start anew. It's the enjoyment and enthralment, the utterly captivating conversation. Time is of no matter. It's the intellectual meeting of minds. It's the stimulation and excitement, and a thrashing of the sense's. In 38 years, there's only 5 people that I have been brave enough to bear all, and let the walls fall down around me and speak my own thoughts. As the mask crashes to the floor, it is disregarded, not given a second glance. It's the trust, the close bonding of souls. It's the being brave enough to bare all, and being so richly rewarded in return. Ceri Dobbing
Eddie Cassidy
S is for .. S is for summer~still clinging on S is for shells~pebbles & stones~summer's souvenirs~scavanged & sorted S is for snap~Polaroid snaps~places & spaces~a sense of place~a sense of self in space S is for seahorse~starfish~sand S is for seaweed~sea life~beach life~quiet life S is for September~starting school~transitions & change~suddenly shocking S is for special~needs or no needs~interests & passions~Statements as were S is for Slytherin~Sonic~Science~sketching~stories~obsessively expert S is for story~our story~others’ stories~all too common~read, listen, act, share S is for sharing~over sharing~even with strangers~shudders! S is for syndromes~sensitive senses~sounds, smells, sights~senses assaulted S is for swinging~spinning~stimming~sensory seeking~sensory avoiding S is for socially~avoidant~anxious~starved~disabled~segregated~ isolated S is for sparse~friends~friendless~sparsely friended~so special~dear old friends S is for sync~in & out of~idiosyncratic~speech S is for speak~some can’t~we can’t sometimes~speech is cheap~it’s what you do S is for systems~systematic failures~sins against the vulnerable S is for striving~strive to survive~survival responses~constantly startled S is for stress~soaring~sleepless~sinews shattered~sanity snapped S is for scared~scarred S is for shout~slap S is for swipe~Swiper no swiping! S is for sorry~we are~are you? S is for spectrum~same issues~similar issues~singularly different~ not less S is for seeking~understanding~acceptance~inclusion~equality~ societal shift S is for sugar~spice~frogs~snails~puppy dog tails~identity~shaken & stirred S is for self-identity~confusion~whispers~Careless Whispers~forced endings & beginnings S is for sure~unsure~insecure~self-doubt~self-deprecating~ self-loathing~side effects S is for self-medicating~starving~self-harming~suicide~too highly prevalent in this community S is for shots~cigs~Southern Comfort~in the bottom of a glass~ spirits downed & drowned S is for soul~Save Our Souls! S is for support~speech & language~psychiatric~psychological~ occupational~not behavioural S is for self-help~self-care~support groups~friends & family~fairly, justly reciprocal S is for self-talk~self-soothing~processing~acting out loud~speaking out loud S is for say~what you mean & mean it S is for settling~is that what I mean?~making the best of & grateful for life S is for soap~certain soaps~fresh laundered sheets~shoes & risottos~slabbed stoneware clay S is for structure~strategies~stamina~listening~observing S is for seeing~solving~thinking in tangents, circles & spirals~skilled problem solvers S is for sleuthing~Sparkling Cyanide~Agatha Christie~lost in a book~ useful for calming S is for serious S is for sad
S is for Sara~sadly serious~sucking @ social~silly times lost S is for silliness~desperately sought S is for safety~sadly lacking S is for silence~p l e a s e S is for sea S is for swim S is for sun~sunflowers~bees S is for sprinkles~or sprinklers~you choose S is for stars~sparkling in space~s a f e s p a c e S is for sky S is for Skye S is for summer~still clinging on~sounds, smells, sights~senses sated S is for songs~solos or otherwise~food for the soul~good soul music~ soundtracks to life S is for songbird~soak it all up~Sandy & Danny~Summer Lovin’~no singing in the a.m. S is for strong~soft~too strong~too soft~too sensitive~too slow~ too much~stand strong S is for standing~out & up~Stand By Me S is for shoulders~share some~free empathy~empathy rich~ Lean On Me S is for Saturday~Saturday & Sunday~weekend’s here~sweet rest & recovery~I Don't Like Mondays S is for sat~sitting in bedrooms~secretly hiding~hidden conditions S is for sick~sick of~speculation~spurious causes & cures~sick with measles & mumps S is for science~studies & research~busting the myths~seek out the sound stuff S is for sounds~shattering noise~the too loud shouting of doubters & haters S is for STOP S is for silent~Silent Night S is for shush now~settle~sleep sweet peas~sweet children of mine S is for sons~sisters~siblings~family~rivalry~love S is for spouse~Cherish the Love~self-love~Sacred Love~Sting! S is for snuggles~hugs~no hugs S is for safe~Maslow’s first basic need~now you can start S is for smart~find your smart~start~something~somewhere~never stop S is for self~self-actualisation~Shine~You Are My Sunshine~you are somebody~I Wanna Dance S is for swirls~smiles~Smile~sparkling eyes~granted wishes~sprinkled happiness~YES PLEASE! A is all of these.
Sara Lawler ‘S is for…’ first appeared in ‘An Affinity with A’: http://anaffinitywitha.blogspot.com/2019/09/
Hazel Loo
Heartsease She holds her vigil on a bed of moss beneath a sheltering oak, as you hide linen-thin threats in the sky, slipping their menace under clouds and burning it off with the heat of low stars. She watches you sleep, rehearses for a quiet war and lifts her stems, catching beads of acid worry as they fall from your fingers, carving tracks in the dirt, a trail for your descent.
Kate Garrett
A chat with Daniel Defoe behind Ludlow Castle My shoes won’t fit just-so to your three-hundred-year footprints in the dirt beside the Teme, where you once admired the disused towers, stone well on the way to today’s ruin. Now you interrupt my quiet moment. I know my peace is modern, electric – silence is never what it promises to be. I watch the river pulse with days of summer storms, children laughing on the green; my toes point over the edge of the bank, boosted by the rush of water. I reflect on a future I mean to shape, watch interlaced strands of centuries and picaresque, imagined lives, truth in the flesh, create a place for you to cross, and tell me things must change, whatever we do.
Kate Garrett
Through the hedgerows, a bend in the road Between stalks of Queen Anne’s lace, she swerves and dips like a low-flying swallow, gathering blossoms, the fuzz of full spring on the gravel track guiding the way. Put trust in fine white petals, carried by the armful back to kitchen comforts – mortar and pestle and jars of spice. She knows whatever good she does for others might never be returned, but she’s taken in a wayside boy who needs a lift, a nudge. He’s at her table, leafing through books the world forgot. She glides, retracing the path, a St Dorothy of lost lanes.
Kate Garrett
Raining Blossoms
Ali Gilligan Scarred Shadows
Ali Gilligan
The Cursed Child
Ali Gilligan
Darkness Sitting in the darkness waiting for light Emotional silence but a mind so bright Bring me the chance and bring the joy to say those 3 words to my special boy Body like a prison no control of the tongue Looking for the opportunity to sing you my song The only way out is with your help and support Forever I am grateful and never retort. Heathar Ashley Barrett
Making memories Finding time to reflect Happiness likened to love Think out time here should be wisely spent No worries about giving up for Lent Devour our delicious existence Eat, laugh listen and love For one day we release our dove. Heathar Ashley Barrett
Feels Stacked up emotions harden to serve Fortunate keeper of sense and verve. Control beyond ones self Thoughtless tears Voiceless in pain Heathar Ashley Barrett
Noah Loo
Noah Loo
Noah Loo
ŠFlamingo Literary All copyright of artwork/poetry/fiction belongs to the individual artists and writers.