cant
This piece was written for the Black Hole Club Mayday Reader in May 2020. It explores the difficulties that arise when an autistic person tries to communicate allistically.*
I Can’t.
I want to.
I can’t.
can't
/kɑːnt/
contraction
modal verb: can't
-
Cannot (v)
c. 1400, from can (v.1) + not. Old English expressed the notion by ne cunnan. The typical representation of the Scottish pronunciation is canna.
I C.A.N.T
cant
/kant/
See definitions in: All (Nautical) (Carpentry)
Hypocritical and sanctimonious talk, typically of a moral, religious, or political nature:
"he had no time for the cant of the priests about sin"
Language specific to a particular group or profession and regarded with disparagement.
"thieves' cant"
Denoting a phrase or catchword temporarily current or in fashion.
modifier noun: cant
"‘herstories’ rather than ‘histories’ as the cant phrase goes"
Talk hypocritically and sanctimoniously about something.
"if they'd stop canting about ‘honest work’ they might get somewhere"
(of a ship) swing round.
"the ship canted to starboard"
(Carpentry) a wedge-shaped block of wood, especially one remaining after the better-quality pieces have been cut off.
"a squared-off cant remains, containing the knottiest wood"
Canticles (in biblical references).
canticle
/ˈkantɪk(ə)l/ noun;
plural noun: canticles;
singular proper noun: Canticles;
noun: Canticles
1. a hymn or chant, typically with a biblical text, forming a regular part of a church service.
2. another name for Song of Songs (especially in the Vulgate Bible).
Origin Middle English: from Latin canticulum ‘little song’, diminutive of canticum, from canere ‘sing’.
My little song, without hypocrisy & no political talk
(disability is political tho)
is that I can’t.
I can’t because I don’t
Understand
U
It’s too much
INFORMATION
And words that slide on the tongue
like so much spittle and gack:
Slack & Skype & so many #’s
*Allistic = not autistic
