A Litany For Neurodivergence | Teen Ink

A Litany For Neurodivergence

December 16, 2021
By Autisticwriter BRONZE, Louisville, Kentucky
Autisticwriter BRONZE, Louisville, Kentucky
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

 A Litany For Neurodivergence

Inspired by “A Litany for Survival.”


For those of us whose brains don’t “properly” function

Whose minds sway with the winds of stress

Whose head panic dissects

It is not happiness that gets to be addressed

Because anxiety like a vail covers our reason

And our mind unentertained commits treason

Sabotaging our success

Utilizing duress

For those of us whose lives were changed

By a slice of tree that arbitrarily defined range 

Who've become intimate with pain

And referred to as insane

Because of our mind

Who can’t unwind


Because unbridled 

awareness will not let us ride

And our body won’t abide

By the rules we´ve set


For those of us who don’t get to dictate our future

Whose independence was stolen from us

Because we didn’t take the same bus

To maturity as the rest of our generation

Always being trailed by apprehension

Lurking monster of time

Whose presence in a classroom is considered a crime

Whose movements are classified as disruptive

Whose brains are eruptive

And feet and hands uncooperative

Who are stashed away from the rest of society

Whose schools preach selective propriety

And don't want us to achieve notoriety 

Because we are perceived as a barrier to the rest

Of the students success

You are different, not less


Even if no one but me believes that.


The author's comments:

I am an autistic writer who utilizes her skills to advocate for the disability community and provide representation for those with developmental conditions. This particular piece was written during my time at Governor's School for the Arts. 


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This article has 5 comments.


on Jan. 5 2022 at 12:33 am
Magical_Badger BRONZE, Nairobi, Other
1 article 5 photos 20 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If everyone fought fire with fire, the whole world would go up in smoke."
(A Series of Unfortunate Events)

This poem is amazing, thank you for sharing it

on Jan. 2 2022 at 5:00 pm
SparrowSun ELITE, X, Vermont
200 articles 23 photos 1053 comments

Favorite Quote:
"It Will Be Good." (complicated semi-spiritual emotional story.)

"Upon his bench the pieces lay
As if an artwork on display
Of gears and hands
And wire-thin bands
That glisten in dim candle play." -Janice T., Clockwork[love that poem, dont know why, im not steampunk]

AUTISM FOREVER!!!!!!!!!
i love my neurodivergency, screw what people think

Lydiaq ELITE said...
on Dec. 30 2021 at 10:31 pm
Lydiaq ELITE, Somonauk, Illinois
172 articles 54 photos 1026 comments

Favorite Quote:
The universe must be a teenage girl. So much darkness, so many stars.
--me

Wow this poem is popular. I can see why!

Adhd_in_STL said...
on Dec. 28 2021 at 9:32 pm
Adhd_in_STL, St Louis, Missouri
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
Thank you for putting into words what so many of us struggle to explain

Adhd_in_STL said...
on Dec. 28 2021 at 9:32 pm
Adhd_in_STL, St Louis, Missouri
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
Thank you for putting into words what so many of us struggle to explain