Autism's Spectrum Of Silence Poem by James McLain

In the world where this secret dwells,
One truth shines bright, my tale to tell,
Autism, a spectrum vast and wide,
In its embrace, I've learned to hide.

Level one, a gentle dawn,
With minimal support, they carry on,
Independence sings in their heart's refrain,
Navigating life with grace through pain.

Level two, a deeper shade,
Where voices tremble, and fears invade,
Substantial support becomes their need,
In a world of change, a guide.

Level three, where terror lives,
Dependence grows, like a large mushroom,
Yet therapy's light, a beacon's glow,
And medication's hand can gently show.

Once five types danced in a fray,
Asperger's, Rett's, in disarray,
Childhood's break, Kanner's plight,
PDD-NOS, hidden from sight.

Yet the world of knowledge, ever wide,
The British minds did made strides,
In twenty-thirteen, they drew a line,
A single term, where all align.

Autism, a tapestry, complex and real,
Each thread a story, each life a reel,
Under one roof, the many now stand,
A spectrum of silence, united, hand in hand.

In understanding, we find our way,
With compassion and love, come what may,
For every heart, though different, can soar,
In the realm of autism, we now explore.