This poem was originally written as a college spoken word poem for an art showcase night. Though it is not officially part of the In Isolation project, I did re-work this poem and get it back on to my laptop while in this quarantine, so I am publishing it here.
Wake up, breathe438Please respect copyright.PENANA4QTaGCNUVq
These are the lessons life taught me.438Please respect copyright.PENANAm9Z4lXUFbz
I am no one- or maybe everyone?438Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1ffqh8OCd
Just dust blowing in the wind438Please respect copyright.PENANAxgUbHt3Cqf
Get up, brush off, make it home again438Please respect copyright.PENANAr5sPScOZmC
Wake up, breathe438Please respect copyright.PENANAGLg6szS3UM
Hide. Don't show your face, your fears438Please respect copyright.PENANAYa4O6S0vIH
They watch you like hawks, eyeing their prey438Please respect copyright.PENANAID3pBzm62V
They don't want you near438Please respect copyright.PENANA54vvwhpldU
Not enough room, you can't play438Please respect copyright.PENANAqDnQSvmfXA
They see you fall, laugh behind your back438Please respect copyright.PENANAeIkWpvEQ2T
They watch from afar438Please respect copyright.PENANAtBwxJcg52H
Putting on a mask438Please respect copyright.PENANALHlvRF72BS
Humor me; make me say the word "friends"438Please respect copyright.PENANATJl95xu5uW
So let's play a game:438Please respect copyright.PENANA9CqVt7rEtB
One where I walk and fall, and stumble around438Please respect copyright.PENANAq3VuFVt8aq
Due to legs not quite right.438Please respect copyright.PENANAS6g1XH3yfq
One where you say "oh, she's my friend!"438Please respect copyright.PENANAfPUJfpYLM0
But wouldn't really care if I was dead.438Please respect copyright.PENANAyxT7aodCdg
I'm just a person to be nice to,438Please respect copyright.PENANAfaLmaPWjrH
Because somewhere in that unsaid rule book of society438Please respect copyright.PENANAjSK94BuumE
It says you need to be nice.438Please respect copyright.PENANAH4TY9WCAYp
Wake up, breathe438Please respect copyright.PENANAiXX8DHwP3b
Get a couple scars - move on.438Please respect copyright.PENANA2oyQgQSPQr
Ride a horse, find that freedom you were yearning438Please respect copyright.PENANA4e8Yujp4GO
Fall in love, realize it was never really meant to be.438Please respect copyright.PENANAPRjQsoG2mI
Love is always more complicated than it seems.438Please respect copyright.PENANA4b64gNfcrZ
Break up, break a heart, fall back in line.438Please respect copyright.PENANAiNBgkUP13m
Just another day in this life of rushing blood.438Please respect copyright.PENANA3o4LTzAmat
Wake up, breathe438Please respect copyright.PENANAi26AHxsugv
Go back, learn how it all ends438Please respect copyright.PENANAdy6YUyJxOt
With stabs in the back, rumors running flat, lies spun and undone438Please respect copyright.PENANAqvb7k7x2If
And there is me, numb;438Please respect copyright.PENANAgIEBdZkofX
Lost in a world that doesn't make any sense.438Please respect copyright.PENANAYTzDTn8aHw
Scared to open her heart for fear of falling apart.438Please respect copyright.PENANA56ND8AVUOP
For fear of being torn apart (again).438Please respect copyright.PENANAKZ6k5geCbq
Leave the familiar, move away438Please respect copyright.PENANAha6Oo9Hkc9
Gain some independence, what you've always wanted.438Please respect copyright.PENANAq1gdSjyqJN
Wake up, breathe438Please respect copyright.PENANAmfdlhMHXr2
Know this is who you were meant to be.438Please respect copyright.PENANAIeMPhGWX91
Find a home in a God you were told about438Please respect copyright.PENANAZ9eRHy4XFN
But were losing faith in and weren't sure you believed438Please respect copyright.PENANAlAIqMAWRcT
Learn interpretation is key, and love is all that matters.438Please respect copyright.PENANATBuxzRWJss
Find a way back to the road you once walked on438Please respect copyright.PENANAxAumPyW0ix
Make your own voice heard438Please respect copyright.PENANAnXpjx2XSwI
These are lessons life taught me.438Please respect copyright.PENANAXTBeC5w8wk
I'm still falling down, I'm still struggling438Please respect copyright.PENANAo1L6pNoDlt
Under the weight of loneliness438Please respect copyright.PENANAUpuSeI8BdU
And a multitude of illnesses438Please respect copyright.PENANA2538bUtEYj
Disabilities, and inconveniences.438Please respect copyright.PENANAc7GELSiVzG
But I woke up today, I breathed.438Please respect copyright.PENANAM9jhBAamDk
I'm alive today.438Please respect copyright.PENANATEMCNS1wLu
These are the lessons life taught me.438Please respect copyright.PENANAkpQqv14BlQ
Not everyday is easy, but it's worth trying.438Please respect copyright.PENANAzhWXzbiUEh
Because now I know someday it gets better438Please respect copyright.PENANApXXPU3XZyk
I haven't found love438Please respect copyright.PENANAsfS6FuCIYv
Or even that one special friend.438Please respect copyright.PENANAyx1QZrEOt8
But someday I will.438Please respect copyright.PENANAiCwMAtdvZk
These are the lessons life taught me438Please respect copyright.PENANAjVcny3WUB2
And this is a poem for those like me who lost their way.438Please respect copyright.PENANAI6TFOAGGj8
With a battle leading with retreat;438Please respect copyright.PENANAk3509M7BpR
Those with their autoimmune diseases438Please respect copyright.PENANAlij2v1lGnR
Or cerebral palsy438Please respect copyright.PENANAvL7Y5jy3Ra
Or anything else438Please respect copyright.PENANAN5i1RYprS5
That made it so life taught them a thing or two.438Please respect copyright.PENANA62QenXFXLk
Wake up, breathe438Please respect copyright.PENANADWPfmApPsB
For release isn't an option.438Please respect copyright.PENANAVBUxI6ct1o
When down the road, there will be so much to live for.438Please respect copyright.PENANAzELMqD5qnP
So much to be here for, so many more life lessons to learn438Please respect copyright.PENANAbpY6vfvVRF
And so much more to see.