My son, a gentle giant

He is so quiet, standing there,
sometimes he is lost to us in his own world
that distant gaze seeing through and beyond me.
A big man with a gentle heart
but he does not know his own strength.

Flashes of anger and irritation
fists clench, face frozen with inexpressible emotion.
His body stiffens and elongates.
He stutters, he cannot get the words out.
Frustration is clear.

We allow him his space
to work through feelings he barely understands.
Slowly he calms, and smiles
that gentle smile with the distant gaze.