Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Samuel Osborne

10-year-old writes beautiful poem about life with Aspergers

An autistic child has written a beautiful poem which gives an insight into life with Aspergers.

When Benjamin Giroux, 10, was asked to write a poem for school entitled "I Am", in which he was given the first two words in every sentence, he wrote about how he feels "out of place" and "like a castaway". 

"I am odd, I am new. I wonder if you are too," Benjamin wrote. "I hear voices in the air. I see you don't, and that's not fair."

The poem was posted on Facebook by the National Autism Association, where it was liked over 10,000 times.

In a post accompanying the poem, the National Autism Association wrote: "You did an excellent job, Benjamin! You fit right in with us because we're #oddtoo."

Benjamin's father, Sonny Giroux, told the Huffington Post he and his wife were brought to tears when they read the poem.

"We were both so proud, and yet so heartbroken, that this was how he felt," he said.

He added: "Each like, share and comment he’s received since has made him feel like not only he does fit in and belong in this world, but has also moved him beyond words that he’s touched so many."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.