Sometimes a boy wants to flap his hands
Jump up and down
Chew
Alone.

There isn’t really alone in the city.
Autism attracts attention.
Differences do that.
Attention usually means stares
Sometimes glares
Scowls
The worst are comments.

1 in 100 comments will be confirmation.
Oh, I’m autistic too.
My sister is autistic.
I get it.
Most don’t get it.

You don’t necessarily need to.
It is great when folks understand
Have basic knowledge
But just allowing our existence
Without intervention
Ignoring what you don’t understand
Without comment.
That is a gift.

I can’t explain all day
Don’t want to
And you know,
The autism goes where we do.

No, oh in public now,
Autism powers deactivate!
Always being autistic can become always on display
Like the zoo animals
How exhausting.

Am I right?