what to make of autism | Tim Raymond
well, it’s a motherfucker
the other day it walked down to the ocean
to greet the whales
to tell them facts about themselves
that sperm whales are the largest of the toothed mammals
that their record depth is more than two hours
that of all the mammals’ skulls
theirs is the most asymmetrical
because autism loves what’s asymmetrical
in a society of symmetrical
it did not apologize or falter or weep from shame
it stammered some but did not stop
and while walking home paused
to make sure the dog on the street
and person on the street
had enough for the evening
it greeted the stars
and noticed the contributions of bugs
it used its voice and stims
to soften the air
and affirm life’s music
it made the world better
About the Author:
Tim Raymond’s work has appeared in Chicago Quarterly Review, Conjunctions, and Witness, among other publications, and his first novel, Flee, is forthcoming from Button Poetry. He is the comic artist for ONLY POEMS and shares stories about autism and gender on Instagram at @iamsitting.