A powerful description of being autistic by this beautiful little girl.
Congratulations to 12-year-old secondary school student Ava who has won a national poetry competition with her entry about living with autism 📝
You can read her winning ‘Power of Poetry’ entry below:
“Take a seat and sit with meI want to talk about ASDIf you don’t mind I’d like to explainA little thing called autism and how it affects my brainIt can make me anxious, angry and afraidBut this stays in my head, on my face it’s not displayedI may seem heartless and question your meaningsBut it takes me a little longer to process the feelingsTake a seat and sit with me I want to show you ASDA girl sitting quietly is all you seeBut inside my mind I am far from freeMy thoughts collide, my senses take overI become overwhelmed by the smallest soundClicking pens, ticking clocksThat boy’s chair and the way it rocksAll different smells attacking meThe perfumes, the coffee, the teacher’s teaTake a seat and sit with meBut not too close, I have ASDI try to be social, I try to fit inI come across rude, I can never winI am very literal and straight to the pointIf you want the truth I won’t disappointWhen my brain is overloaded I sometimes lash outMy control fades, I scream and shoutI get confused and it all spills outIntense emotions all trapped insideFinally have nowhere to hideTake a seat and sit with me I want to tell you about ASDPlease understand I am not to blame I’ve just got an atypical brainBut it’s not all doom and gloomI’m often the sportiest girl in the roomI’m quirky, unique, kind and caringI’m loyal, protective and always sharingI’m obsessed with frogs and all things greenI’m the youngest trendsetter you’ve ever seenTake a seat and sit with meI am Ava, I am meI’m not just my label of ASD.”