AUTISM MERCHANT
#the Autism Merchant
Some sell hope in measured words, Some walk beside the pain. Some know that every child is different, and nothing is ordained.
But somewhere on the crowded road, where desperate parents stand,
appear the maps that promise ports No sailor truly planned.
"Follow this path." "Count these days." "Success is just ahead." The weary traveler clings to hope,
And follows where he's led.
Yet autism laughs at rigid clocks, At calendars and charts.
It writes its stories differently in thousands of young hearts.
One child may speak at four years old, Another waits till ten.
One learns to cross a busy street, One needs a guiding hand again.
The spectrum owes no debt to pride, No promise, plan, or scheme.
It bends the strongest theories and humbles every dream.
For progress comes in whispered steps, Not always grand or loud. A single word.
A calmer night. A parent standing proud.
The wisest guides are seldom those Who claim they know the way.
They simply hold a lantern high and help us through the day.
They do not sell certainty. They do not guarantee.
They know that every child unfolds Like leaves upon a tree.
And so before we promise stars to families lost in night,
Let us remember autism asks for honesty with light.
For hope is precious medicine, but truth must lead the art.
The finest teachers do not predict— They listen first to the heart.
Because autism is not a formula. Not a timetable. Not a race.
It is a journey that teaches humility to everyone who dares to walk it.
Lt Col(Dr.) Amit Kumar
Written from the perspective of a physician, Army officer, and father of a son on the autism spectrum, the poem reflects on a reality many families encounter during their autism journey—the tension between hope and certainty, and the importance of honest guidance over promises of predictable outcomes. At its heart, the poem is not a criticism of hope. Rather, it is a tribute to the parents, educators, therapists, and professionals who walk beside families with humility, compassion, and truth. It argues that autism is neither a formula nor a timetable, but a deeply individual journey that demands patience, understanding, and respect for each child's unique path.
