Daily writing prompt

Describe a family member.

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In all honesty, it’s hard to describe a family member if you haven’t fully experienced them. After all, how can you describe the same memories and indescribable emotions? The colors and smells and sights that remind you of them, right?

Well, let me tell you—it’s even harder to describe my brother, Huck.

And in all honesty, this poem I wrote and posted a few months ago is about as close as I can get to describing him to someone who has never met Huck. (Read the original post.)

Takiwātanga: One’s Own Time & Space

Growing up
and seeing angels.
Loving life
with different angles.

Imagining
in your own world,
unconcerned of
what life might hurl.

Taking your time and making your way,
unworried of what others might say.
Few social skills, taking no social cues,
but adorably and unapologetically you.

The most genuine person you could ever meet
and also the most sensitive child—hurt easily.
Takiwātanga: in your own time and space,
Māori for something unseen on your face.

But when you reveal your heart and your mind
we learn to take you at your own time.
Whether you’re pretending you have a new name
or telling us all the rules for your new game
we don’t mind since you are 

Takiwātanga.

Now, Huck isn’t all sunshine and rainbows—nobody is, right? He has his breakdowns and has his bad days but that’s fine. My parents can tell you all about my bad days because they definitely exist…

But Huck can be a challenge to whoever interacts with him. He might give you a new name or tell you all about the imaginary world he lives in. He gets distracted and sidetracked easily and if you ask him a question, he’s probably not going to answer it the way you expected. It takes a lot of patience and kindness. One thing I’ve really appreciated are my friends who are super generous and patient whenever Huck is around with us. They don’t roll their eyes or push him away, but rather kneel so that they can be at eye-level and ask engage him in conversations.

That’s not much of a description, but it will come in handy for the next post! You’ll see why on Saturday! Thanks for reading!
~Willow

(Read all of Huck’s story here.)