Please, please, don’t get angry
When I turn down help
I don’t need.
I just want to meet my needs not yours.
Please, please, don’t get weepy
When you see me out shopping
Pity tastes bitter
I ‘m not Tiny Tim I’m just getting groceries
Please, please, don’t offer me prayers
With your hands held out to touch me
I don’t want healing
I want to do what I can in peace
Please, please, don’t grab my chair to help
It’s assault and could hurt me badly
A chair is not permission.
I just want my boundaries respected.
Please, please, don’t stare at me and my differences
Your eyes are intrusive and slice through my day
Difference is just difference
I want to be anonymous and even invisible.
Please, please, don’t find me inspiring
And tell me how moved you are
I am not inspiring.
I’m just being the way I was meant to be.
I’m asking nicely because I was raised to be polite
But I grow weary of caring
About your feelings
I really want to slap you silly sometimes.
But I don’t.
Not yet.
