I have asperger’s,
and that’s okay.
I live with it
every day.
I’m different,
so they say.
But I wouldn’t have it any other way

I see things that others won’t.
I do things that others don’t.
I come off awkward when I speak.
But I’m not odd,
I’m just unique.

I tell the truth; I never lie.
Better to be honest than deny.
Need someone to describe an event, fact for fact?
You know who to call; I have your back.

I can do the same thing each day for fun.
Like completing puzzles,
and reading a ton.
I get enjoyment from the simplest things.
Happiness is found
in the pleasures life brings.

I pay attention to detail,
nothing slips by me.
Concentrating is as easy as one, two, three.
My thinking is constantly connecting dots.
That’s how I solve problems
and make all my shots.

I have lots of emotions;
I express them too.
I laugh when I’m happy,
and cry when I’m blue.
“Oh, he’s too sensitive”, folks may believe.
But I’m comfortable wearing
my heart on my sleeve.

People with Asperger’s don’t all act like I.
Some love socializing,
some are unable to try.
Though people might not behave how you expect,
please treat with them with compassion
and respect.

Having Asperger’s
makes me think.
How others observe me
week after week.
I know I stand out, and
have a hard time fitting in.
Can I really feel secure inside my own skin?

Of course you can.
Yes, you’re not “normal”,
but nobody is.
We’re all special in our own way,
and trust me,
you’re a wiz.
Asperger’s is always
a gift, and it shows.
You are one of a kind
from your head
to your toes.

But the best part about being me,
is the encouragement from
my friends and family.
And though sometimes I feel I have it rough,
I remember they love me for me,
and that’s enough.
I have Asperger’s, and that’s okay.
And I wouldn’t have it
any other way

Zachary Kerman
2020

This submission is also published in “I Have Asperger’s, And That’s Okay: Poetry On The Autism Spectrum (Kindle Edition)” by Zachary Kerman.