I can be kinder without a mask
A poem from my journey of unmasking my true self
I was raised to be friendly,
to extend my hand
to be shaken,
as if from my own land–
for I want to be quiet.
That’s all I ask.
I can be kinder
without a mask
of smiles and chatter.
I want instead
to speak what I choose
from a quiet head.
– written 2021
P.S. Note from 2025: only in the past year have I realized that my strong desire for quietness has to do with being autistic! This has greatly helped to validate my need for less of chatting and social convention-complying and more of thoughtfulness and quietness.
