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.PENANAMBdlVgAwH8
These are the lessons life taught me.715Please respect copyright.PENANA7cgEO3jPXw
I am no one- or maybe everyone?715Please respect copyright.PENANA5AezombPq8
Just dust blowing in the wind715Please respect copyright.PENANAAnb6i3HaI8
Get up, brush off, make it home again715Please respect copyright.PENANA2Xyaeapq1j
Wake up, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANAZcqt44b4HF
Hide. Don't show your face, your fears715Please respect copyright.PENANAqeRwby8iYy
They watch you like hawks, eyeing their prey715Please respect copyright.PENANASyK2EkBQ05
They don't want you near715Please respect copyright.PENANAeiMcEHegNl
Not enough room, you can't play715Please respect copyright.PENANAXSWgKraR6e
They see you fall, laugh behind your back715Please respect copyright.PENANAf6tzchQgqu
They watch from afar715Please respect copyright.PENANASMFiHQe0pe
Putting on a mask715Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2WaC9w7LK
Humor me; make me say the word "friends"715Please respect copyright.PENANAdVTxzJOKjU
So let's play a game:715Please respect copyright.PENANArZM9CWjiAf
One where I walk and fall, and stumble around715Please respect copyright.PENANAy0DzWH6tPD
Due to legs not quite right.715Please respect copyright.PENANAaokljSvlsk
One where you say "oh, she's my friend!"715Please respect copyright.PENANAtHOBzGfFwK
But wouldn't really care if I was dead.715Please respect copyright.PENANAklBmGX0Nip
I'm just a person to be nice to,715Please respect copyright.PENANAedm0ukUvjx
Because somewhere in that unsaid rule book of society715Please respect copyright.PENANANVao5XvBX3
It says you need to be nice.715Please respect copyright.PENANAHT6rffHWwU
Wake up, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANA0j170zVYSz
Get a couple scars - move on.715Please respect copyright.PENANAW9GvIfyxIs
Ride a horse, find that freedom you were yearning715Please respect copyright.PENANAXTg1ypRFAN
Fall in love, realize it was never really meant to be.715Please respect copyright.PENANAt1BMIsuiDQ
Love is always more complicated than it seems.715Please respect copyright.PENANArTkmFN1dHY
Break up, break a heart, fall back in line.715Please respect copyright.PENANAiHBn5PaVjR
Just another day in this life of rushing blood.715Please respect copyright.PENANAwk2EyZ0NRQ
Wake up, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANAXAoD2IZ5NS
Go back, learn how it all ends715Please respect copyright.PENANAdxKj8MODYy
With stabs in the back, rumors running flat, lies spun and undone715Please respect copyright.PENANA0WeByeRKBH
And there is me, numb;715Please respect copyright.PENANApZ4JqRB8yo
Lost in a world that doesn't make any sense.715Please respect copyright.PENANAloZF8SWwaq
Scared to open her heart for fear of falling apart.715Please respect copyright.PENANAQVxxENv0lW
For fear of being torn apart (again).715Please respect copyright.PENANA4W9CCgd1yo
Leave the familiar, move away715Please respect copyright.PENANADlpSpOJjvv
Gain some independence, what you've always wanted.715Please respect copyright.PENANADdktwm1Fai
Wake up, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANALUatKXcL1R
Know this is who you were meant to be.715Please respect copyright.PENANANJY0B4OJkH
Find a home in a God you were told about715Please respect copyright.PENANANpfbzyxNkT
But were losing faith in and weren't sure you believed715Please respect copyright.PENANA4H2LR24YNo
Learn interpretation is key, and love is all that matters.715Please respect copyright.PENANAdLcIOXJ0XQ
Find a way back to the road you once walked on715Please respect copyright.PENANADzMwauEygI
Make your own voice heard715Please respect copyright.PENANAGy8YwtT1sg
These are lessons life taught me.715Please respect copyright.PENANAW7igE2u4vz
I'm still falling down, I'm still struggling715Please respect copyright.PENANAsIS17KL8HI
Under the weight of loneliness715Please respect copyright.PENANA7c07SBNSNE
And a multitude of illnesses715Please respect copyright.PENANAzOdB7M8lCI
Disabilities, and inconveniences.715Please respect copyright.PENANAydkVmzHWAd
But I woke up today, I breathed.715Please respect copyright.PENANAXuo4OpozLZ
I'm alive today.715Please respect copyright.PENANAKPWNkfsm30
These are the lessons life taught me.715Please respect copyright.PENANAOBAC4BwudU
Not everyday is easy, but it's worth trying.715Please respect copyright.PENANAxjbODaRtii
Because now I know someday it gets better715Please respect copyright.PENANAX7Oz4CMO2h
I haven't found love715Please respect copyright.PENANA2dKDCcdrVQ
Or even that one special friend.715Please respect copyright.PENANATS1vIAAnXD
But someday I will.715Please respect copyright.PENANAqSngLh659e
These are the lessons life taught me715Please respect copyright.PENANAkVE7MH1j8b
And this is a poem for those like me who lost their way.715Please respect copyright.PENANArxnVy1Mps8
With a battle leading with retreat;715Please respect copyright.PENANAFOX5Godbzo
Those with their autoimmune diseases715Please respect copyright.PENANAF6YmZmGnMQ
Or cerebral palsy715Please respect copyright.PENANAmrkkzYYKw6
Or anything else715Please respect copyright.PENANAtArzx2NNKV
That made it so life taught them a thing or two.715Please respect copyright.PENANAHYSqjTUPnq
Wake up, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANAAFL4dfzK1U
For release isn't an option.715Please respect copyright.PENANAHiL4vZMzkv
When down the road, there will be so much to live for.715Please respect copyright.PENANAdm2qkb0zli
So much to be here for, so many more life lessons to learn715Please respect copyright.PENANAUjINgYnFfg
And so much more to see.