To My Brother Ian Who Lives on the Autism Spectrum--
i. Measuring Up
by Joan Goodreau
Grownups whisper
“He can’t catch up to normal kids.”
On our birthdays my grandma
marks on her kitchen wall
to show how tall
my brother and I grew that year.
No matter how I try
I can’t catch up to Ian’s line
and win the race of height.
So this year I get my grandpa
to lift me on Ian’s shoulders
and together we’re
a totem pole
with my funny face and
his fierce scowl
a giant
who reaches past all the marks
to touch the ceiling
and win the catch up prize.