Leo in Bloom Magazine

Editor’s note: Philip, Austin, and Elliot are friends who gained access to fluent communication within the past couple of years, opening up a world of new experiences, including a feeling of community among themselves and their many new speller friends. In 2024, they began sharing poems among the three of them, celebrating the meaning of blossoming in brotherhood.

Rising

SUNLIGHT HAS HIT
FINALLY LONG ENOUGH HOURS
THE ROOTS STIRE
IN THE FIELD
ALL IN THEIR TIME
OWN TIME
GREENS RISING
UNTIL THEY ALL BLOOM
TOGETHER

- Philip Lopez

Birds In Formation

I HAVE SEEN PELICANS
GLIDING IN UNISON
OVER WAVES
TOGETHER IN FLIGHT
THEY SEEM KINGS
OF AIR
SO AT EASE
I KNOW SUCH EASE WILL
ELUDE US IN THIS LIFE
BUT WITH YOU MY
HEART SOARS

- Austin Baker

I Think of Days Like This

Leaves flutter golden
Crisp blue skies
And I am radiant with joy
My limbs move
As I ask them to
My beating heart
Is surrounded by others like mine today
Alone no longer
Hurting from the injustice of
Our condition in this world
I am not on my own anymore
These days are my hopes
Like rays of warm sun

- Elliot Teasdale

About Philip, Austin, and elliot

You might remember Philip from his piece in Issue 8, while this is the first contribution for Austin and Elliot. This trio have known each other since childhood. They are from the Temecula area of southern California, and were in their late 20s to mid-30s when they gained fluency in Spelling to Communicate. They are a core part of what is known as “The Crew” in Temecula, including meeting for monthly workouts in the park. Together, they are working to create a network of “speller-friendly businesses” in Temecula. Their writing careers have only just begun!