Autism Is.... Poem by Soma Mukherjee

Once I met a lady in a store who looked at my daughter and asked me what was wrong with her why was she behaving this way
I saw my daughter and told her nothing she is just dancing to her favourite song and this is also one of the ways she plays

She looked confused so I explained and told her she is autistic
For which the lady congratulated me as for she had heard artistic

She may have not heard it properly but she was right wasn’t she?
Both the words had so much in common if only world could see


Autistic is artistic cos they look at the world very differently from us
They paint or write or sing what they feel and create a beautiful buzz

An autistic’s perception of world is so different so unique
And most of these artists prefer to let their work speak

Most autistics/artists are still looking for the medium they want to express their feelings in, what makes them comfortable
Or maybe what they are doing right now is their art, their stroke, their poetry, whether or not we find that agreeable

Are we mature enough to understand their art?
Are we talented enough to polish their skills?


Don’t ruin it for them by moulding them into something they are not.
You will lose them for ever, for they won’t be the same without their art

Guide them through this life, make them as independent as you would any other child but give them space and time
Don’t rush them into this life, for every child autistic or not, is a caterpillar in cocoon, and will only emerge when nature chimes

You won’t get a butterfly by breaking the cocoon, or else they will neither be a caterpillar nor a butterfly
Give them time, nourish them make them feel loved and see how your beautiful butterfly flies

Do we have patience to give them that time?
Do we not know what broken dreams feel like?


Guide them give them the proper tools to move and grow
How to overcome obstacles that you have to show

Don’t overload them with your expectations or pampering’s,
For every child autistic or not is like a seed, and overloading will be very hampering

Always remember too much spoils and too little leaves impoverished
They need just the right amount of everything you can offer and oh the places these kids go when they feel loved and cherished

Care for them, they are part of you, involve them in your life and participate in theirs with all your Arden
And see how they bloom into the most beautiful flower in your garden

Have you learnt and polished your skills to be good gardener?
Have you taken training to be a good coach?

I have a child with autism and I have had my share of taunts, staring, worthless advices and criticisms,
But I never let those rule my life; for it would have been insult to all those angels I met in this journey of autism

This is a long journey and we will fall and fail, a lot, I know that
But I will learn, get up and make corrections and move ahead and not worry about the stat

I will get up every time and help my daughter get up too, I promise to my child and myself
We keep moving whether life offers us an empty or a well-stocked shelf

When I see my child I see
-A budding artist,
- A butterfly emerging from a cocoon,
-A beautiful sprouting seed.

Yes I will give her all that she needs and enjoy the process.