Kimani is a four-year-old girl with Down syndrome and a brain injury. She is visually impaired, wildly impulsive, and very cute. She is unable to express herself with words, and thus I am left to wonder about her…
Always I wonder what she sees, what she knows. Always I wonder who she is on the inside.
If I could paint her brain it would look like this…
And if I could paint her heart, it would look like this…
And if I could paint her soul, it would look like this…
And if I could paint a little Kimani inside herself, it would look like this…
But I did not paint those pictures. It was Kimani who painted herself from the inside out.
Post by The Unknown Contributor. Reprinted with permission.
Browse more posts on Art and Disabilities
Browse more posts on Down Syndrome
_____________________________
“Gillian Marchenko’s Sun Shine Down is a moving account of the birth of her third daughter, Polina. She describes her depression after Polly’s birth and her own difficulty in loving her child. Beautifully written, this memoir is hopeful without being glib.”
—Susan Olasky, World magazine
- Making Peace With Paradise—Celebrate + Poetry Prompt! - September 15, 2022
- Summer Respite + Take Your Poet to Work Day - July 15, 2022
- Poetry Prompt: Earth Song Nature Poems—Celebrate! - July 4, 2022
Will Willingham says
TUC, every time I look at this, I think I can figure out what, or how, she did it. And then I look at it again and see how the straight lines split and peel back, or the part that looks like a fist, or the tiny bit of orange emerging at the bottom and I know I don’t have any idea what I’m talking about.
Good golly. I could look at this all night. I’d be just as amazed six hours from now.
L. L. Barkat says
Just beautiful. Truly. Your words, a poem. Her painting, a poem without words.
Daniel Niblock says
This is beautiful and remarkable artwork. Each one is a masterpiece.
Karen Swallow Prior says
Wow. I did not see that coming. Just wow.
Donna says
Every time I see this I am speechless. In January it blew me away. And now, again in March. I am looking forward to this book….
L. L. Barkat says
The book is Gillian Marchenko’s. 🙂
This post is by another parent, but it is a view into that world, which we feel is powerful and a great introduction to what will be coming from Gillian.
Donna says
Ahhhhh …. gotcha! Looking forward to Gillian’s book. This post… just amazing. Every time I look at the images I notice something else inside.
SimplyDarlene says
Somehow I missed this post earlier in the year – seeing it now after following links in LL’s HP article. Kaleidoscope of beauty inside out upside down turns the eyes of my heart.