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Autism Sonnet

The lights are much too light and sounds too loud;
And thoughts are only thought in black and white;
Try to tolerate a middling crowd
And talk so small, so pointless, so polite.

To hyper-focus is the narrow way
That leads to life, that few will ever find;
Such neurons which diverge will interplay
And yearn to speak minutiae of the mind.

But when to speak, or not to speak? Indeed,
That is the question of this give and take;
And masking’s masquerading’s guaranteed
To obfuscate the real, to say the fake.

The spectrum is potentiality
Within a quirky specificity.

winner of the 2025 Maria W. Faust Sonnet
Contest Laureate’s Choice Award.

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Poet’s Note: sensitivity to the environment, black-and white thinking (seeing the world in absolutes), disdain for small talk, focus on minutiae, and”masking” (a learned behavior to manage social situations) are characteristics of Autism Level 1 (formerly known as Asperger’s Syndrome).

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Theresa Werba (formerly known to the SCP community as Theresa Rodriguez) is author of Sonnets, a collection of sixty-five sonnets in Shakespearean, Petrarchan, and Spenserian forms. She has appeared as a guest feature on Classical Poets Live where she discusses rhythm and harmony in poetry. Werba’s background as a Classical singer informs dramatic poetry readings which Carla Christopher says “have all the passion of high theater”and may be found on Youtube @thesonnetqueen. Her website is www.theresawerba.com.

10 Responses

  1. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Theresa, this is my first insight into the world of autism. I applaud your sincerity and depth of feeling and knowledge about this syndrome, as well as your sensitivity communicated to us through an excellently written poem.

    Reply
    • Theresa Werba

      Thank you so much Roy for your kind comment. I have decided to be open and candid about my autism. Like many women (especially of those of us born in the 60s) autism in girls was not even on the radar– I was not even formally diagnosed until 10 years ago, when I was 53. It is sobering because it explains so much of why I have had so many social/behavioral problems throughout my life, but vindicating in that at least I can understand why things have gone the way they did. I am also very grateful that I have been able to express some of the characteristics and foibles of autism in sonnet form!!

      Reply
  2. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Theresa, your poem captures sensitively and admirably in fine words of poetry the very nature of autism. I have known and looked after children with autism and your sonnet sings to me. This wonderful piece shows that a poem can often say a whole lot more in its brevity and beauty than any dry article on the subject. Congratulations on your recognition in the Maria W. Faust Sonnet Contest.

    Reply
    • Theresa Werba

      Thank you so much Susan!!! I appreciate your words very much! And congrats to you on the same award at Maria W. Faust!!! I was hoping to see you at the online reading but they said you were sick!!! Hope you are better!!

      Reply
  3. Cynthia L Erlandson

    Indeed — congratulations, Theresa! I agree that this is a very impressive sonnet. The lines that jumped out the most to me were your allusions, in lines 5 and 6, to Christ’s words about the few who will find the narrow way; and, in lines 9 and 10, to Shakespeare’s “to be or not to be” question. You worked them in beautifully. Bravo!

    Reply
    • Theresa Werba

      Thank you Cynthia so very much for your kind comments– indeed, both allusions were intentional– it’s fun to play around with what is familiar and take it in a novel direction– stretching familiar to the unexpected, I like to think. So glad we can enjoy wordsmithing together here at SCP!!

      Reply
  4. James A. Tweedie

    Theresa, Let me join in the applause for your sensitive and cogent poetic “capture” of autism. I have friends who have more or less navigated successful lives with autism and my oldest daughter is a licensed therapist whose focus is on children and adolescents working to move forward in life with various emotive limitations imposed by ADHD, autism, childhood PTSD and the like.

    It is a tricky business trying to touch all the right emotionally frustrating buttons associated with autism in the brief space and strict form of a sonnet. I am very pleased that the Faust judges recognized your accomplishment and also pleased that you chose to share it with us.

    Reply
    • Theresa Werba

      Jim, thank you for your kind comments. I like the description of the sonnet as “brief space and strict form”– that to me is what makes sonnet writing so gratifying– what sort of poetry can we make within such parameters? I love the challenge and I love the process and love the end result.

      As for my autism, I wish I had had your oldest daughter as a therapist in my earlier years, it would have helped so much! But I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 53 as you know. Only in the last year have I begun to work with a behavioral support specialist, has been so helpful to me, even at the age of 63!

      Reply
  5. Paul A. Freeman

    Thanks for your enlightening sonnet, Theresa. Being different comes with all kinds of challenges. A fortnight ago I was teaching English as a foreign language to an autistic boy. At the school’s summer talent show he pulled out some sheet music and regaled us with classical music.

    Well done on your sonnet competition placing. I actually heard your recitation last week, full of feeling and emotion. Awesome.

    Reply
    • Theresa Werba

      Thank you Paul for your kind comments. The byword of the moment is of course “neurodivergent,” as opposed to “neurotypical”… although the autistic form neurodivergence may be my reality, I do not wish to wear it as a badge on my sleeve, far from it!! My diagnosis has mainly been very helpful in explaining things that were inexplicable before, and for me that has warranted some manifestation in poetic expression… but I am not using autism as my identity any more than saying I am Jewish and have green eyes… I am so glad you heard my reading last week– I was very grateful for the opportunity!!!

      Reply

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