A Sensory Second
The lights are bright,
the hums are loud,
the colors blend as one.
The noises irritate my ears–
this party’s not-so fun.
I close my eyes
and squeeze my knees,
count back slowly from ten–
Remind myself I’m strong–
and that this happens now and then.
My senses tend to overflow,
like water in a pot.
My brain begins to panic
and my body feels a lot.
Deep breaths,
Resets,
Cancelling the noise.
Nature sounds,
Darkness,
Holding fidget toys.
Only then can I return,
feel settled
and calm down.
Start the moment over.
Turn the day around.
I’m one-of-a-kind,
Neurodiverse,
My brain works differently…
So does yours,
and his,
and hers,
I’m proud of my brain and me.
the hums are loud,
the colors blend as one.
The noises irritate my ears–
this party’s not-so fun.
I close my eyes
and squeeze my knees,
count back slowly from ten–
Remind myself I’m strong–
and that this happens now and then.
My senses tend to overflow,
like water in a pot.
My brain begins to panic
and my body feels a lot.
Deep breaths,
Resets,
Cancelling the noise.
Nature sounds,
Darkness,
Holding fidget toys.
Only then can I return,
feel settled
and calm down.
Start the moment over.
Turn the day around.
I’m one-of-a-kind,
Neurodiverse,
My brain works differently…
So does yours,
and his,
and hers,
I’m proud of my brain and me.
This poem is copyright (©) Alicia Meyers 2024
About the Writer
Alicia Meyers
Alicia is a first-grade teacher in Washington, DC, diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at a young age. As a Neurodiverse author and teacher, she hopes to encourage children to embrace themselves as who they uniquely are. Alicia’s debut book, TIC-ERRIFIC ME, will be released in 2026 with Free Spirit Publishing. She is an active member of SCBWI and Julie Hedlund’s 12x12 Picture Book Challenge. When she’s not teaching or writing, she can be found singing, performing, buying way too many books, and color-coding things in rainbow order.
