It takes 2 hands to clap...

This is a poem written by Jim, a 27 year olds man with Autism (Cesaroni and Garber, 1991, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders).

Jim feels that suggestions of people with autism lacking empathy and not taking other people's perspective, are unfair. He feels it more objective to say that people with autism have difficulties with expressing their thoughts and feelings, and understanding social cues. He writes about the tremendous efforts he puts in to interact with other people, though very often unsuccessfully. The poem also seems to have a hint of disappointment, at how people without autism often do not help make interactions with people like him, easier.

I built a bridge
out fo nowhere, across nothingness
and wondered if there would be something on the other side.

I built a bridge
out of fog, across darkness
and hoped that there would be light on the other side.

I built a bridge
out of despair, across oblivion
and knew that there would be hope on the other side.

I built a bridge
out of helplessness, across chaos
and trusted that there would be strength on the other side.

I built a bridge
out of hell, across terror
and it was a good bridge, a strong bridge, a beautiful bridge

It was a bridge I built myself,
with only my hands for tools, my obstinacy for supports,
my faith for spans, and my blood for rivets.

I built a bridge, and crossed it,
but there was no one there to meet me on the other side.