Three Haikus on the Autistic Experience

By Martine Mussies

音の洪水
心は溺れる
静寂求む

A flood of loud sounds
My heart is drowning deeply
I long for silence

**

一つの道
深く掘り進む
宝を得る

On one path I dig
Deeply to find my treasures
Passion in my hands

**

人の海に
波の間に立ち
孤独感じ

In a sea of crowds
Standing strong between the waves
Loneliness sets in

Martine
Martine Mussies is an autistic academic and artistic researcher based in Utrecht, the Netherlands. A PhD candidate at Maastricht University, she recently published her first monograph, Inside the Autside – a Misfit Manifesto. Martine is also a professional musician, visual artist, avid language learner, and budo practitioner. More at www.martinemussies.nl.

2 replies on “Three Haikus on the Autistic Experience”
  1. says: Heath Wilder

    I have them sitting in an open tab on my browser. I really love them, and get new things every time I read them. Such a wonderful format.

    I made this which find funnier that I probably should:

    Happiness awaits,
    a bouncer guards the doorway—
    wrong shoes on my feet.

    幸せが待っています、
    用心棒が戸口を守っている――
    私の足には間違った靴が履かれています。

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