I'm A Person, Not Autism

By Josiah Cullen

Thinking my losses were big, I'm landing my feet

Pounding my way through the mouth of loss

I'm not my mouth, I'm my mind and spirit

Look on my mind and I'm loud inside

Look on my large laboratory in my soul

I'm bigger than my frame and joy is great

Read my lips--no don't, they don't move right

My jobless mouth thinks that it is personhood

I'm not loud in my laughter like most are

I'm joyful in my language of loud notes

Pair my joy in this month with my need for you

Thinking on me, I'm not a lamb or lion

I'm not mouthy to light up nights

I'm not holding autism miles on laps in malls

I'm not looking for my family of boys like me

I'm looking for my looking humanity

Pass my way and I'm looking on you

I'm looking into your notions

I'm joining your joy and your pain

Thank you for needing more love than you have

Thank you for going for big joy in letting me in

Poking out from your light is your real self

I'm joyful too when I'm me in my limits off

Pick me for nominations and I will pass

Look at me like I'm good and I will pass

Keep me like I'm loud to your hoping and I'm here

Polling for brightness, I'm holding light

Lapping for joy, I'm ordering my steps

Opening my mouth, I'm looking pale

Opening my heart, I'm looking home

I'm not lost in this place in my thinking

I'm lost in my performing like all are

Polaroid pictures look like poor quality at first

Polaroid pictures get light and pop to life

Mighty people, you mouth words mightily

Power is noted in loud positions

Look inside, for mouths only move to jaywalk

Power is mighty if more look around than please

Politely, make your move on this day

Politely, look for joining more kids in love

Put more kids in positive youthful places

Leave no man behind in his loud mind

Put more love into looking for pals than labels

Open your life to the kids that are not like most

Hold hands with lots of kids in hope of faith

Thank you for my hope in living loud

My joy is more in than out, but it's there

Josiah is 9 years old and is non-verbal. The Rapid Prompting Method opened up his communication three years ago, and he now types with his pointer finger on his iPad with some arm steadying as we work toward full independence. He loves to write poetry and wise sayings we feature on his Facebook page, Josiah's Fire.