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.
