“The Luck of Few”

We have a problem,

the white coat did say.

It is rare like a four-leaf clover

best kept safe and tucked away.

Dry it and place it

in a box far away.

Or ... show it out to the world,

someone softly did say.

The beauty, the joy you

must always mind,

the light will leak through every crack,

no four walls can make it blind.

For the happiness belongs

to the luck of few,

who bend to reach

the four-leaf clove anew.

Hersberger

Provenance:

Title: “The Luck of Few”

Artwork of Alexa Rose with her mom, created by Ela and Larry Hersberger in September, 2025 in NC as part of the Don't Fear Me campaign.

Artist Note

The poem tells a story about fear, expectation, and hidden beauty around a Down Syndrome diagnosis.

The “white coat” represents authority (doctors, systems) that often frame the situation as a problem—something rare, fragile, and better hidden or controlled.
The idea of putting it in a box reflects fear, protection, or even society’s tendency to hide what is different.
The opposing voice—“show it to the world”—introduces another truth: that this “rarity” is not something to hide, but something meaningful.

Then the poem shifts:

Light leaking through cracks → joy cannot be contained or suppressed
No four walls can make it blind → love and truth will still shine, even in fear or confinement

Finally, the ending brings your core message:

The “four-leaf clover” is a metaphor for a child born with Down syndrome—rare, unexpected, and often misunderstood
The “lucky few” are the parents who experience this journey
“Who bend” represents going beyond expectations—choosing a path they didn’t plan, facing fear, and growing through it
“Anew” means their life is reshaped—different, but deeply meaningful