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, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANATWkuSOqNLF
These are the lessons life taught me.715Please respect copyright.PENANA83cqq5Y9WS
I am no one- or maybe everyone?715Please respect copyright.PENANAQU2QmYzhux
Just dust blowing in the wind715Please respect copyright.PENANAF47pHRSV2l
Get up, brush off, make it home again715Please respect copyright.PENANATuRpvfGR0x
Wake up, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANAt8FFliP5Td
Hide. Don't show your face, your fears715Please respect copyright.PENANAahE1vXGWV3
They watch you like hawks, eyeing their prey715Please respect copyright.PENANACBG3WGwQzf
They don't want you near715Please respect copyright.PENANAriwoV77Fpg
Not enough room, you can't play715Please respect copyright.PENANAQoBvHItq7q
They see you fall, laugh behind your back715Please respect copyright.PENANAQG4Yr4BVpu
They watch from afar715Please respect copyright.PENANADuzVuv3Oy0
Putting on a mask715Please respect copyright.PENANAoWnwp5lXm1
Humor me; make me say the word "friends"715Please respect copyright.PENANAzgk5T7rk0F
So let's play a game:715Please respect copyright.PENANAya8i4JY5Dc
One where I walk and fall, and stumble around715Please respect copyright.PENANAcejGAGChcg
Due to legs not quite right.715Please respect copyright.PENANACoNsdM4pgE
One where you say "oh, she's my friend!"715Please respect copyright.PENANA94lFdJEvbZ
But wouldn't really care if I was dead.715Please respect copyright.PENANA40pJcZjLvx
I'm just a person to be nice to,715Please respect copyright.PENANAtAxKIYkmxi
Because somewhere in that unsaid rule book of society715Please respect copyright.PENANA16CpXiGSfI
It says you need to be nice.715Please respect copyright.PENANAeg0ZiLbs9Q
Wake up, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANA9pE4uaX2Yv
Get a couple scars - move on.715Please respect copyright.PENANABYATpcXpel
Ride a horse, find that freedom you were yearning715Please respect copyright.PENANA9AT0mWVAUj
Fall in love, realize it was never really meant to be.715Please respect copyright.PENANAdCDQ6M6e1H
Love is always more complicated than it seems.715Please respect copyright.PENANAwtwmjpHfiw
Break up, break a heart, fall back in line.715Please respect copyright.PENANA8YxNl36mN9
Just another day in this life of rushing blood.715Please respect copyright.PENANADFx1N2uZh7
Wake up, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANAuLizoLlXeM
Go back, learn how it all ends715Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2wACZ860w
With stabs in the back, rumors running flat, lies spun and undone715Please respect copyright.PENANAcp0oThL0Mj
And there is me, numb;715Please respect copyright.PENANAqEDsvV0hDx
Lost in a world that doesn't make any sense.715Please respect copyright.PENANA8RTdJu7FuG
Scared to open her heart for fear of falling apart.715Please respect copyright.PENANAfGBNIe0MMR
For fear of being torn apart (again).715Please respect copyright.PENANALokMfYFr5c
Leave the familiar, move away715Please respect copyright.PENANARC1t8Q1MT4
Gain some independence, what you've always wanted.715Please respect copyright.PENANAx1vEL6UUAo
Wake up, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANAd1OK264pkA
Know this is who you were meant to be.715Please respect copyright.PENANAATP7TWGx8Z
Find a home in a God you were told about715Please respect copyright.PENANA4XpoIVxQTj
But were losing faith in and weren't sure you believed715Please respect copyright.PENANA25X66uFjgM
Learn interpretation is key, and love is all that matters.715Please respect copyright.PENANAhfwLhyOAil
Find a way back to the road you once walked on715Please respect copyright.PENANAIlhXxeK7eE
Make your own voice heard715Please respect copyright.PENANAd2D0xuMhxD
These are lessons life taught me.715Please respect copyright.PENANApWVhYDPyn6
I'm still falling down, I'm still struggling715Please respect copyright.PENANA7fUpbXx939
Under the weight of loneliness715Please respect copyright.PENANAX1IJUTxjrk
And a multitude of illnesses715Please respect copyright.PENANAmF36x269EE
Disabilities, and inconveniences.715Please respect copyright.PENANA45ljI8654b
But I woke up today, I breathed.715Please respect copyright.PENANAJFVfMovQww
I'm alive today.715Please respect copyright.PENANA98tQABxLwD
These are the lessons life taught me.715Please respect copyright.PENANAR9heZk2KGe
Not everyday is easy, but it's worth trying.715Please respect copyright.PENANAGyiLya8gRc
Because now I know someday it gets better715Please respect copyright.PENANAgO6FLXgEwm
I haven't found love715Please respect copyright.PENANA6hwyKcMrZG
Or even that one special friend.715Please respect copyright.PENANAZG893UyeWP
But someday I will.715Please respect copyright.PENANAXaEyXF99nk
These are the lessons life taught me715Please respect copyright.PENANAmfm2NJQ7s0
And this is a poem for those like me who lost their way.715Please respect copyright.PENANA0qseVijVUB
With a battle leading with retreat;715Please respect copyright.PENANAw7eN0YmE1b
Those with their autoimmune diseases715Please respect copyright.PENANAyM4rgxi7WM
Or cerebral palsy715Please respect copyright.PENANArLVHmjyc2n
Or anything else715Please respect copyright.PENANAiurQcnUynr
That made it so life taught them a thing or two.715Please respect copyright.PENANANB9LE1q3OD
Wake up, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANAp6Qf9rTJ7L
For release isn't an option.715Please respect copyright.PENANAL2AgowqLjX
When down the road, there will be so much to live for.715Please respect copyright.PENANAcYxFJtn8bD
So much to be here for, so many more life lessons to learn715Please respect copyright.PENANAbzT5oyGu9g
And so much more to see.