Disorder

Sometimes I think
              I see people –
                   what they want to be seen
                        and what they may not intend to.
              I can empathize
                     identify
                          or at least
                     slightly understand
                               in some small way.

Other times,
     I wonder if I have some mental disorder
               because I am so completely socially awkward.
     I may react poorly
          or completely wrong to something,
              thinking 5 steps ahead
                    or 10 behind
              and I don’t actually end up making
                        any sense.

Or I can’t translate what’s in my head
     into words
          or even make
                    actual
                    words
              come out of my mouth.
     I just stumble over them,
          and have to keep
             starting over
                    like I never actually learned to talk.

Even if I did understand or
                 completely get
                         what the person said
                                               thought
                                               meant,
               I can’t actually communicate that
                    effectively
                         and we have to start over anyway.