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About the Poem

Raising a child with autism can be emotionally draining on a parent, particularly when there is a communication delay involved. My son is four years old and almost never uses words practically. He has only used a handful of words in his lifetime and has never spoken in a complete sentence. He has never said "I love you" to me or his mother, never sings his favorite songs and never speaks of what he experiences in his own little world.

Despite the difficulty inherent in raising a child with autism I am convinced that any parent can find the love in his or her heart required to do such a task. Despite the language barriers a parent will also know that his or her love is not being cast into a vacuum but, rather, that love is returned and multiplied a hundred fold. My poem is a testimony of this truth.

I have chosen the traditional format of a Petrarchan Sonnet for this poem. A Petrarchan Sonnet has a rhyme scheme of (usually) abbaabba cdecde. The first eight lines present a problem or argument and the final six the resolution. Sonnets are often avoided by poets who may not find the strict structure to their liking. I hope, after your reading of my sonnet, you are in agreement with me that the rigid format of "My Autistic Son" in no way minimizes the impact of the message. 		Love Poems
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My Autistic Son
by Jim Bouder
Autistic shackles hold your little tongue
From telling me the punch line of the joke
That caused your fits of laughter to provoke
Excited happy tears. You've never sung
Your fav'rite Barney song and, when you clung
To me that winter night when you awoke
To bitter, fearful sobs, you never spoke
A word of what tormented one so young.
Although autistic shackles bind his speech,
His love is blazoned on his beaming smile.
Although I missed the punch line of that jest,
I laughed myself to happy tears. And each
Dark night when he awakes and fears defile
His sleep, in Daddy's arms he finds his rest.

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(c) 1999 Jim Bouder Please respect the rights of the author and Passions in Poetry. If you would like to use this poem on your own web page, please contact the Author. Thank you.
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Visitor Comments (from the Voting form)
eryn
i have an autistic nephew. i know how hard it is to be able to know what their feeling, or even what they want. and its very frustrating. but i love my nephew just as much as the baby growing inside of me now. i wouldnt trade him for no other. your poem really touched me, and i give you props for being a good parent to a child that is so hard to communicate with. god bless you and your family, i wish you the best
Shelley
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL POEM. I OOULD FEEL THE LOVE THIS MAN HAS FOR HIS SON.
Christopher
A great poem! My six year old is also Autistic and non-verbal but he's a loving and happy child for which I am gratefull! Your words have touched me deeply, thanks!
joanna
i really felt that this poem was really deep, i hope you all the best with your son and i feel that you are very talented
Courtenay
I LOVED THIS POEM ALOT. U ARE A WONDERFUL MAN NOT MANY PEOPLE ARE AS PROUD OF THEIR CHILDREN WHO ARE DEVELOPMENATLLY DELAYED. I AM A STUDENT STUDYING TO BECOME AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN. YOUR POEM NOT ONLY TOUCHED ME AS A PERSON BUT ALSO AS AN EDUCATOR. THANK YOU
Amy
Excellent. Couldn't be any better.
Kerrianne
I am currently a Special Education teacher; i am emotionally touched. The poem was simply BEAUTIFUL and well said. A fathers' love is priceless!
erika
The poem of this child realy got to me! and i just hope that the peace of this child that he is looking for will be ther. "I respect him just like i would respect another child that and pertect them from violents" of parents who try to hurt them. WITH MUCH LOVE, A. K. A PRINCESSES
Rachael
i love it my brother is autistic and i know how you feel
Jessie
I am a single parent of an autistic child and I can relate with this poem oh so well
Katy-lyn
This is an amazing and heartfelt poem. I loved it, and every single word strikes home for anyone that has ever had an autistic child.
Barbara
Your poem brought me to tears. I have an autistic grandson. He is six years old now.
Dacia
I love this poem and can relate to it because I too have an autistic son. Your words are encouraging and expresses the love your son gives you, even without his words but, his love.
Paul
Oh Jim, he captures a snapshot of the trials of parents and children in autism, to present to the uninitiated, yet he celebrates the joy of loving our children. Thank you Jim for your double edged sword.
ramon
This is a very good poem it shows your love toward your son i made friends with someone who was autistic. after you get to know them you really don't need to hear them speak although to you it's probably much more thank you for sharing your poetry
Diane
This poem tells, as far as words can, the deep heartfelt bond between the daddy and his boy - like the bond between my son and his son. Thank you for sharing this. Jayden's nanny
Edith
Jim, I wanted to say that your poem very very much touched my heart, because our youngest son, whose is four, is autistic and non-verbal. It is a journey everyday with all that he accomplishes, and the setbacks that happen from time to time. He is such a blessing, joy, and an incredible little boy. He has such strength and love that we feel very honored to know that God has selected us as his parents. May ALL our special children realize just how beautiful they truly are! Take care and God Bless!
val
i liked thispoem because i babysit an autistic boy and he really dosent speack and i know thats how his mother feels sometimes
Stormy
My son who is 11 years old was just diagnosed today with Aspergers syndrom, we alwaays new something was just not right but couldent get anyone to figgure out the problem. I researched many things to see if I could come up with anything, but Aspergers was the furtherest one from my mind. it is so nice to see that a father such as your self, loving your child so much to even take the time to write such a beautifule poem, although I am privleaged to hear him say I love you, he is very much a puzzle and will only speak when he wants to. thank you very much for sharing your wonderful thoughts with us. Stormy
Debb
How true the pain, the loss, the longing. As a parent of an autistic son, your poem spoke volumes and touched that place where we never share with others fully. our souls. Thank You
Amanda
I loved your poem. It reminds me of my little brother Dean who is also Autistic. I want to thank you for writing that poem, and I would like to read some more of them from you.
Annette
Your poem made me cry. I am attending Florida Metropolitan University in Orlando, Florida and I am doing a paper on autism and its effects on family. I thank God every day for those special children and ask God to give their families strength and health to continue caring for their loved ones. God Bless.
aditi
It's a very beautiful poem that touched my heart deeply and brought tears to my eyes. There's a touch of sadness in the life of the poet,nevertheless, he feels the pain of his son,who is a very special child,and loves him deeply. The poet is a very strong parent. I really loved this poem.
sarah
This poem really spoke to me. My nephew is autistic and i have watched my sister struggle to reach him. He is one of the greatest gifts to our lives. He has taught us unconditional love, perserverance, patience, and how to speak volumes without saying a word. Thank you, Jim, for putting all of the emotions that surround loving an incredible unique child.
Caroline
this poam affectedly me deeply, as the mother of 3 wonderful sons 2 of which are diagnosed as autistic. It's easy to express your love with a hug, it's hard not to do.
Gail
How touching those words are. I have an autistic child who never spoke a word until he was nearly 6 and thanks to sign language he now speaks alittle and how precious it is to hear him speak.
Michelle
This poem touch my husband and I very much. It brought tears to our eyes. Thank-you
Jackie
Thank you. My five year old son, Dominick, is autistic and your poem moved me to tears.
Connie
I could see my 5 year old grandson when he was 4 years old. He is making so much progress. The highlite of my life was the day his Mother called me and said that He finally said to her--I LOVE YOU Mommy. The second one was when they were visting us and he kept following me around and all at once he threw both arms around my waist and said "Big Hug"! Thank you for the poem.
Ian
Jim, I feel exacly like you do with our 8 year old autistic son. He has come a long way and he is ussing lots of words now, but I am still trying to figure out the punch lines of his jokes.
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