Stupid? An Autistic Boy's Point Of View Poem by Paula Glynn

What am I? Stupid?
No, I'm autistic.

I can think of no other jokes,
About my condition,
I do take things literally sometimes,
But I don't want to make you laugh,
And I don't want your judgements or scorn, either.
I am human, just like you,
Even though I get things wrong,
My reasoning a little off the mark,
But I am full of ideas,
And full of charm,
I love sharing my ideas with everybody,
And just love being creative!

I am a very playful 12 year old boy,
And films like 'Brave' and 'Harry potter' I enjoy,
I can imagine flying a broomstick,
And wonder why I can't in my backyard,
I get told it's only pretend,
But it looks so real, I get confused,
How does Harry stay in the air?
I have tried it, but my attempts always fail,
So my dad says he'll get me a helicopter!
And my mum says this doesn't make me a failure:
It makes me a hero,
I suppose she's right,
But I always imagine what she calls impossible,
To come true!
I mean, airplanes stay in the sky, right?
So why can't people?
I also wonder about many other things,
A curious mind, my mum calls it,
They also call me advendurous and brave.

My parents love me a great deal,
And always say there is no harm,
In having a vivid imagination!
I guess they're right, at the end of the day.
So when I start big school this September,
Maybe some of my dreams will come true:
No, I'd like all of them to come true,
Helicopter here I come!
I really am a young man of the times,
And am as bright as a button.