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, breathe714Please respect copyright.PENANAa8HLUAoVaN
These are the lessons life taught me.714Please respect copyright.PENANAcMc3rdubBO
I am no one- or maybe everyone?714Please respect copyright.PENANALsVKmjP9V2
Just dust blowing in the wind714Please respect copyright.PENANAO9NdDL6CPl
Get up, brush off, make it home again714Please respect copyright.PENANAaiS9COwdTT
Wake up, breathe714Please respect copyright.PENANAMNa0tOd7iP
Hide. Don't show your face, your fears714Please respect copyright.PENANAf2JQGbMePr
They watch you like hawks, eyeing their prey714Please respect copyright.PENANANoJbdpNbKF
They don't want you near714Please respect copyright.PENANArAGXX4BqnO
Not enough room, you can't play714Please respect copyright.PENANA6JHcqlQkom
They see you fall, laugh behind your back714Please respect copyright.PENANAXmdvdhDlNu
They watch from afar714Please respect copyright.PENANALvKUWyBRqu
Putting on a mask714Please respect copyright.PENANAKLWHoFGeV8
Humor me; make me say the word "friends"714Please respect copyright.PENANAcGRRgPrJ7T
So let's play a game:714Please respect copyright.PENANACSDBP5oHZx
One where I walk and fall, and stumble around714Please respect copyright.PENANAAgmBmBNN2c
Due to legs not quite right.714Please respect copyright.PENANAPjnJJIUqJs
One where you say "oh, she's my friend!"714Please respect copyright.PENANAOSM0UP3E2h
But wouldn't really care if I was dead.714Please respect copyright.PENANABRvTLtBcl5
I'm just a person to be nice to,714Please respect copyright.PENANAcBF4tGMJV3
Because somewhere in that unsaid rule book of society714Please respect copyright.PENANAkcQvHigdS6
It says you need to be nice.714Please respect copyright.PENANAfm3h6k5n9o
Wake up, breathe714Please respect copyright.PENANAmcvZV8QLrf
Get a couple scars - move on.714Please respect copyright.PENANA2rURMEkbqS
Ride a horse, find that freedom you were yearning714Please respect copyright.PENANAwTi6ywqkYu
Fall in love, realize it was never really meant to be.714Please respect copyright.PENANAr9a1xdHv7U
Love is always more complicated than it seems.714Please respect copyright.PENANAKOx2JO9QCo
Break up, break a heart, fall back in line.714Please respect copyright.PENANANTk51NWzmB
Just another day in this life of rushing blood.714Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8f9I9n6va
Wake up, breathe714Please respect copyright.PENANA437PNnvD07
Go back, learn how it all ends714Please respect copyright.PENANAWs1TltCE1t
With stabs in the back, rumors running flat, lies spun and undone714Please respect copyright.PENANA29OpIMC0yQ
And there is me, numb;714Please respect copyright.PENANAk9X0MncFwJ
Lost in a world that doesn't make any sense.714Please respect copyright.PENANAlwzFEkQaT7
Scared to open her heart for fear of falling apart.714Please respect copyright.PENANAQsWjzAz2by
For fear of being torn apart (again).714Please respect copyright.PENANAsOJx9gMJRY
Leave the familiar, move away714Please respect copyright.PENANACc2wyqQd21
Gain some independence, what you've always wanted.714Please respect copyright.PENANAxezRrYyjZt
Wake up, breathe714Please respect copyright.PENANAs2oSMru3cG
Know this is who you were meant to be.714Please respect copyright.PENANAamMbEHv6sN
Find a home in a God you were told about714Please respect copyright.PENANAVDbFtOutq8
But were losing faith in and weren't sure you believed714Please respect copyright.PENANAFVrWg7Zhg2
Learn interpretation is key, and love is all that matters.714Please respect copyright.PENANA89NIDR1sa7
Find a way back to the road you once walked on714Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3jFV0zXRn
Make your own voice heard714Please respect copyright.PENANAxrf9rZwCZs
These are lessons life taught me.714Please respect copyright.PENANAsz0QthSkfy
I'm still falling down, I'm still struggling714Please respect copyright.PENANAw4oIGxCL4P
Under the weight of loneliness714Please respect copyright.PENANArSCX6oCi2z
And a multitude of illnesses714Please respect copyright.PENANAynH6Br0u7i
Disabilities, and inconveniences.714Please respect copyright.PENANAprtexBUPEF
But I woke up today, I breathed.714Please respect copyright.PENANA1UIeIMYd5p
I'm alive today.714Please respect copyright.PENANAkZo8TsqpCv
These are the lessons life taught me.714Please respect copyright.PENANAiZ8thaZeik
Not everyday is easy, but it's worth trying.714Please respect copyright.PENANA71lee29k02
Because now I know someday it gets better714Please respect copyright.PENANAMcSBULffSq
I haven't found love714Please respect copyright.PENANAoWqJawncF5
Or even that one special friend.714Please respect copyright.PENANAswpuzb86Rx
But someday I will.714Please respect copyright.PENANAqiVKQRFzg3
These are the lessons life taught me714Please respect copyright.PENANACCUZBw4aaK
And this is a poem for those like me who lost their way.714Please respect copyright.PENANAiMdmhvASyZ
With a battle leading with retreat;714Please respect copyright.PENANAcsUIYzUgOi
Those with their autoimmune diseases714Please respect copyright.PENANAkWoSP6Rkod
Or cerebral palsy714Please respect copyright.PENANAPso3UAMWtp
Or anything else714Please respect copyright.PENANAr75WF0ce14
That made it so life taught them a thing or two.714Please respect copyright.PENANASwdxo6MvpP
Wake up, breathe714Please respect copyright.PENANA2r4xiOnO7p
For release isn't an option.714Please respect copyright.PENANAglFLazhU49
When down the road, there will be so much to live for.714Please respect copyright.PENANAc2bUO4obJm
So much to be here for, so many more life lessons to learn714Please respect copyright.PENANArXvSs7B0ba
And so much more to see.