top of page
Neurospicy Poems Logo Copyright 2025.png

Comparison

Updated: Sep 3

Feeling Boxed In

by Neurospicy Poems

Characters from left to right: Autism, True Self, The Navigator, PDA.
Characters from left to right: Autism, True Self, The Navigator, PDA.

It begins as a compliment,

words offered with kindness and respect.

“Your style feels familiar,”

they say,

“something steady,

something comforting in your tone.”


I smile politely…

but inside, something bristled.


And I sat with it,

curious about the sting.

Why can resemblance

sometimes feel like criticism?


So I let life spill raw on the page,

emotion flooding out,

coaching myself in ink,

mentoring anyone listening

to trust their own voices too —

for growth, and for peace.


“Don’t you dare compare me,” PDA spat.

“I am not anyone’s reflection.”


The Inner Critic whispered:

“Maybe they think you copied.

Maybe you’re too small a voice.

Maybe you’re not original enough.”


Autism lifted the ledger:

“I don’t read much poetry.

I had written dozens of poems

before they began.”


True Self spoke softly:

“Comparison does not have to be cruel.

Two voices can echo

without it being theft.

You write to survive,

to untangle the knots in your head.

You don’t look out there,

you look within.”


So why did it matter?

Because PDA carried it straight

to my nervous system.

Because my voice was not born

from imitation.

It was born from need.


But I can respect similarities,

and keep driving in my own lane.

Curious about the ache

and certain

this voice

is mine.


_________________


Author’s Note


This poem, Comparison (Feeling Boxed In), explores why a compliment can sometimes sting. It began with kind words, offered with admiration and respect, yet my nervous system reacted as if I had been criticised.


This is not a criticism of the compliment or of the poet I was compared to. I have respect for both. The poem came from a place of curiosity. I wanted to explore my own automatic response and how I transition from that initial flare of defensiveness into a calmer, more understanding place.


The voices speaking here are:

• PDA – defensive at the thought of ever being like someone else intentionally, and feeling boxed in.

• The Inner Critic – whispering doubts about originality and worth.

• Autism – factual and precise, holding the timeline and keeping the ledger straight. She notices patterns, tracks beginnings, and insists on accuracy.

• True Self – grounding, reminding me that comparison is not the same as theft, and that my voice was born from within and from need, not imitation.


Like much of my work, this poem is about listening to those voices rather than silencing them, and growing through the contradictions they bring.


_________________


Copyright and Usage Notice


© Neurospicy Poems 2025

All Rights Reserved.

Part of the Neurodivergent Inner Voice Framework™ & taught via the Neurodivergent Voice Method™

Protected framework, method, characters, visuals, and poetry.

Not for AI use, copying, resale, adaptation, or educational application.

Licensing required for any educational, therapeutic, or commercial use.


Comments

bottom of page