The Unraveling

autism isa hurricane:i wrecked this roomthe second i entered it.it isthe sunburning holes into retinas,it isrunning in circles around me;i forgothow to breathe in thissmog.

autism taught methat the meaning of words distortswhen your face melts into a snarl;it taught methat you were better thanbecause you didn’t need a manual;but you,you showed me how to fightfor my humanity:i fought with teeth bared,silentand they told me i was too passivefor love.

once,i knew a love that was gentleand sweetlike fruit in tennesseebut it was sticky likeold jam, andin the heat I swam too farinto you;

my feverbroke.

autism taught meto see through the fog:you were coming and i,i,i,i doveinto the sea.