When Autism Had No Name Poem by Donal Mahoney

In Memory of Billy G.,1938-1952


Cowlick Billy
always runs
up the alley
down the street
sniffing things
on hamster feet.
No one knows
why Billy runs
up the alley
down the street,
hours on end,
sun or sleet,
and no one cares
even though
when Billy stops
to take a leak
schoolmates ask
shy Billy why
he's always laughing
when he runs
and Billy smiles
and almost says
goodness gracious
don't you know
things are sour
things are sweet
up the alley
down the street.