My Life is a Prism

Let us commemorate Autistic Pride Day today, June 18, by celebrating the neurodiversity and innate potential in all people on the autism spectrum.

To have autism

Is to live in a prism

Everything's quite askew

A spoon and its color

The grass or its odour

Though obvious, are not in my view

The sounds of the people
The clatter, the ripple
Are too loud they make my ears hurt
Though I want to complain
I cannot explain
It's been like this for me since birth

I have a condition
That harbours derision
From people who don't understand
My speech and my movement
My awkward temperament
The strange things I do with my hand

Though I seem fixated
I'm just fascinated
With flickering fluorescent light
They look like a million
Devoted companions
So I don't let them out of my sight

Though I don't look at you
I know all that you do
There are just many things on my mind
My mother, the weather
The touch of a feather
How I must be one of a kind

Through your altruism
My odd mannerisms
Are better than has been for awhile
I'm reading, I'm talking
I'm dancing and learning
I've found much more reasons to smile

About the poet: Patricia Marie Grace S. Gomez is a two-time Palanca Awardee for Poetry for Children "Poems from the Pantry and Prehistoric Times" and Short Story for Children "A Thousand Paper Cranes." She also has honorable mention from the Philippine Board on Books for Young People-Salanga Prize for her children's story "Pepe's Gift" about the childhood of Jose Rizal. She lives in Bacolod City with her husband Mark and their two boys Mark Jr. and Malachy.

Posted in: poetry,self-advocates