Poem by Dana L. Young
I’ve been on a journey of discovery
Of who I am and who I’m meant to be.
Realizing along the way that my mask
Is slipping.
The me I disguise buried deep
But existing.
The me who acts strange to the
unknowing eye.
So overwhelmed that at times
I can cry.
Frustration and exhaustion claiming
Space in my mind
As I try to follow the “normal” person
Outline.
The unofficial rulebook that shows
How to act in society
Each action feels false and unnatural
To me.
Another social event failed that I
Couldn’t endure.
Public settings, overwhelming, loud
Just too much.
No more.
My mask is hanging on by a thread
Daring me to remove it or keep it on
But I panic and freeze instead.
Feeling seen but unseen at once.
I take it off but replace it with a new one.
A fresh mask with new ideals attached
For a new beginning, a new way to
Successfully mask
To try to be a neurotypical individual
Just an average adult girl
But still living in my Atypical world.
Poetic Blueprint 