The Autistic Mask
By Drakaris Thalion

Born with a mind ablaze with light,
A world of colour, sound, and might.
Yet bound by rules that twist and turn,
In their eyes, my truth must burn.

Each sense alive, each thought profound,
Yet I’m told to blend, not stand out loud.
To hide the spark that sets me apart,
To shield the roar within my heart.

Each day begins with a heavy sigh,
A mask in hand, I raise it high.
Not for disguise, not for deceit,
But to survive the world’s heartbeat.

A world that thrives on social grace,
Demands a smile, a perfect face.
Each glance, each word, a test, a trial,
To walk their path, mile by mile.

Suppress the stim, the urge to sway,
Hide the truth, keep them at bay.
Speak their tongue, their rules obey,
Till every colour fades to grey.

This mask, a shield, a silent lie,
To blend unseen, to just get by.
But it drains my soul, it takes its toll,
Chipping away at my very whole.

In shadows, I seek a fleeting release,
A numbing escape, a moment’s peace.
A drink, a pill, a fleeting high,
To drown the ache of asking “Why?”

Why must I hide, why must I bend?
Why can’t the world let me transcend?
To be my truth, my unmasked core,
Without this war on my very shore.

Yet through the cracks of this fragile shield,
A truer self begins to yield.
For there's strength in my truth, my unmasked face,
A quiet power, a rightful place.

So I write these words, raw and real,
To share the weight of what I feel.
For every soul who wears this guise,
You are enough, no compromise.