Yes
Esther Ottaway
after W.S. Merwin
Listen as the doctor tells us we are not autistic but depressed or a borderline personality we are saying yes before megalithic medical power we are saying yes as the specialist puts us on medication for schizophrenics we are saying yes as the headmaster tells us our children are not disabled enough for teacher’s aides we are saying yes to the college exam board that says shorter sessions and headphones are not reasonable adjustments yes to the pittance from the suspect employer yes to the fundraisers and the credit cards yes to the telemarketer and his solar panels we are saying yes to the dysfunctional friend who wants all our time and yes to the homeless man who knows which house we live in yes to the online catfishers and the predatory dates yes to the masseuse who touches us too far and yes to the man who just needs a bit of help to get on his feet and yes we will go to his house and yes we will hold him and yes we are soft-bodied and agreeable perilous though it is