Autism Spectrum Disorder: I am the 'They'

Autism Spectrum Disorder: I am the 'They'

When you say,

"They'll never pay taxes"

you are talking about me.

"They" have paid taxes since

I first held a job.

Long before you said I couldn't.

And if I had not?

Would that make me less?

Should I be erased

Because your standards

Are measuring a human life,

Which smarts of eugenics?

Or am I not 'them'?

Because I have succeeded

In a Game of Life

Not made for me?

Was it not enough

To make the Rules confusing?

When you say,

"They'll never play baseball"

you are talking about me.

And if how I play

Looks different from you

Aren't I still playing?

And if I had not?

Because the 'crack!'

Of the ball hurts

And the cheering crowd

Makes me want to hide

Or if I had anxiety

Or if I had depression

Why is my life being measured

By whether I can play

In a Game of Life

Where you dress up as the umpire?

"They'll never write a poem"

You say, with false expectations

Of what poetry can be.

Even if I cannot write this

Which I can

As you read it

There are other poems

In this Game of Life

While my friend cooks me food

"Happy! Happy! Happy!"

I sing, as I enjoy life.

Is a song not poetry enough?

Or will you judge my poetry

As you judge me?

Because I'm not the 'them'

You're measuring.

My life is 'worth it' because

I can do those thing

Rather than

Cannot.

But why is my worth

Based on a Game

You should have no right

To write the rules of?

And you cry

"They'll never go out on a date"

Because those who do

Aren't 'autistic enough'

As if we need to be

All one version of disabled

Just for you.

And so what if I didn't

So what if I hadn't

Can't I be happy instead?

Is the merit of existence

Whether one 'can' anything?

Or isn't it enough to

Just exist?

I can use the toilet

Unassisted.

But won't you

Need assistance

When your hair has turned grey

And your legs shake?

What makes your life

Unworthy then?

Or will you change the Rules

Of the Game of Life

So that you are okay

And 'they' are not?

You see the world

As black or white

And dictate my rights

Based on your version

Of the Game of Life.

Your version sucks.

I am 'they' -

Autistic and all.

But you don't see

The spectrum

As a spectrum

At all.