Rest in Pea by Charlotte Poitras

A large tree in the middle of green woodland. Large white text reads: Rest in Pea. Smaller text reads: Discussing disability in fairy tales and folklore.

“Well, we’ll find that out”[1]
thought the doctor
when she said she was
autistic
 
laid twenty mattresses
on a pea as a trick
wondering if she could
feel it
 
but she slept well
not even scarcely
never did she complain
oh had black and blue
all over her body
 
now they knew she was faking
for a real autistic girl
is hypersensitive
 
and the pea
was put in the DSM-5
“where it may still be seen
if no one has stolen it”
 
the girl remains undiagnosed
and is still masking

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​[1] With quotes from the original tale.

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About the author:
Charlotte Poitras is a queer neurodivergent artist-entrepreneur based in Montréal, with more than 100 publications internationally, spanning literature, theatre, visual arts, and audiovisual work. She handles mainstream culture like playdough to make it her own and defend social causes in both shocking and entertaining ways.