Hello! I’m Johnnie Mae, a poet, former Software Engineer, and aspiring Library and Information Management professional based in Oak Park, IL.

I’ve been writing poetry since I was eleven. I used to sit at my family’s decrepit old roll-top desk in our dim apartment pretending I was Emily Dickinson, writing candle-lit poetry, absorbed in the wonderful sensory sensations of pen and paper, wood and warm light, puffy sleeves, and soft cotton.

Poetry was the mechanism by which I coped with a world I did not understand, a world that could not understand me. Poetry has never helped me to understand the cruelties of the world, but it has given me an even more precious gift than that. It has helped me to understand myself.  

As an autistic woman overlooked in childhood, my diagnosis in adulthood came after years of navigating turmoil and uncertainty. Writing has been my sanctuary—a means of navigating a world that often feels chaotic, mysterious, and frightening.

My poetry reflects this journey, exploring themes of masking, identity, and self-discovery. Through prose, traditional poetry, and stream-of-consciousness pieces, I aim to connect with others who share similar experiences and to honor my past self, who bravely faced an unkind world.

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In my poetry collection, Masked, I embark on a profound journey of self-discovery. Delve into themes of autistic masking, identity, and societal pressures as these raw and experimental verses offer a unique perspective on navigating a world that is often chaotic, frightening, and profoundly traumatizing.

With Love,

JMB