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.PENANAqItgaNQ4ZZ
These are the lessons life taught me.715Please respect copyright.PENANAoojDVKpVmv
I am no one- or maybe everyone?715Please respect copyright.PENANAop3QsotzB4
Just dust blowing in the wind715Please respect copyright.PENANAXQKL5wGRcy
Get up, brush off, make it home again715Please respect copyright.PENANABhnhbC5ZbL
Wake up, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANAn5RjPdNn3y
Hide. Don't show your face, your fears715Please respect copyright.PENANATpp9k7C0wD
They watch you like hawks, eyeing their prey715Please respect copyright.PENANAxF99jSxK7e
They don't want you near715Please respect copyright.PENANAM666eYFh1q
Not enough room, you can't play715Please respect copyright.PENANAw4aj3msfSx
They see you fall, laugh behind your back715Please respect copyright.PENANANXCWHYmbtj
They watch from afar715Please respect copyright.PENANAtWxbPkeUTi
Putting on a mask715Please respect copyright.PENANAv6sFzT4UQH
Humor me; make me say the word "friends"715Please respect copyright.PENANAcVzKlGmRU9
So let's play a game:715Please respect copyright.PENANAVAPqt6JPtF
One where I walk and fall, and stumble around715Please respect copyright.PENANAfiTcBfnmMm
Due to legs not quite right.715Please respect copyright.PENANAQpcGAf1Tys
One where you say "oh, she's my friend!"715Please respect copyright.PENANAkH2GA0rNCm
But wouldn't really care if I was dead.715Please respect copyright.PENANA1svozU3ApB
I'm just a person to be nice to,715Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8UyL6dxSB
Because somewhere in that unsaid rule book of society715Please respect copyright.PENANAjwpIZjjc1O
It says you need to be nice.715Please respect copyright.PENANAdlFFK2s2SV
Wake up, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANAidFTbj0GXj
Get a couple scars - move on.715Please respect copyright.PENANAwB6n5DTqa6
Ride a horse, find that freedom you were yearning715Please respect copyright.PENANAW8gQdXNBKl
Fall in love, realize it was never really meant to be.715Please respect copyright.PENANAA3U8atOLrv
Love is always more complicated than it seems.715Please respect copyright.PENANAF1YnpkXTDz
Break up, break a heart, fall back in line.715Please respect copyright.PENANAM0QTIDPUCX
Just another day in this life of rushing blood.715Please respect copyright.PENANAc8CSZKmFYG
Wake up, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANAQzGsutmdnj
Go back, learn how it all ends715Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0jFlZxWPV
With stabs in the back, rumors running flat, lies spun and undone715Please respect copyright.PENANAMqj6EKGGmo
And there is me, numb;715Please respect copyright.PENANAyG0YqrB261
Lost in a world that doesn't make any sense.715Please respect copyright.PENANA47DuNf9wUj
Scared to open her heart for fear of falling apart.715Please respect copyright.PENANANH8PsAHc7H
For fear of being torn apart (again).715Please respect copyright.PENANARK7zCgaoey
Leave the familiar, move away715Please respect copyright.PENANAMk0RtQJ2G5
Gain some independence, what you've always wanted.715Please respect copyright.PENANARXE1QhOlrw
Wake up, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANAG9v1NsixHx
Know this is who you were meant to be.715Please respect copyright.PENANAUc12niWeqb
Find a home in a God you were told about715Please respect copyright.PENANAJDq6L4JgH2
But were losing faith in and weren't sure you believed715Please respect copyright.PENANAMQL11GGn7w
Learn interpretation is key, and love is all that matters.715Please respect copyright.PENANAAtyg7EEm71
Find a way back to the road you once walked on715Please respect copyright.PENANA1BajArtfuc
Make your own voice heard715Please respect copyright.PENANAVqx19sDqJa
These are lessons life taught me.715Please respect copyright.PENANALhyym3kM8L
I'm still falling down, I'm still struggling715Please respect copyright.PENANA22frET3XxZ
Under the weight of loneliness715Please respect copyright.PENANAGP4dSgNULs
And a multitude of illnesses715Please respect copyright.PENANAr9wvLMmP78
Disabilities, and inconveniences.715Please respect copyright.PENANA5fWXyEZprp
But I woke up today, I breathed.715Please respect copyright.PENANABVwFVdIeJV
I'm alive today.715Please respect copyright.PENANAYn2moyWHlF
These are the lessons life taught me.715Please respect copyright.PENANAA4zDt5girb
Not everyday is easy, but it's worth trying.715Please respect copyright.PENANAkxpMDRFlh9
Because now I know someday it gets better715Please respect copyright.PENANACTJIk9qhRY
I haven't found love715Please respect copyright.PENANAyOEk7oSM2h
Or even that one special friend.715Please respect copyright.PENANAXz7S9oD6UC
But someday I will.715Please respect copyright.PENANABZe4p2yksS
These are the lessons life taught me715Please respect copyright.PENANA8cpg0zv5dS
And this is a poem for those like me who lost their way.715Please respect copyright.PENANAjqU2KdUJsK
With a battle leading with retreat;715Please respect copyright.PENANAFUJrs3sAos
Those with their autoimmune diseases715Please respect copyright.PENANA6EhFGc8mRW
Or cerebral palsy715Please respect copyright.PENANAltb2Kitx2B
Or anything else715Please respect copyright.PENANApaagbf39BK
That made it so life taught them a thing or two.715Please respect copyright.PENANAuRW3dISs8b
Wake up, breathe715Please respect copyright.PENANA1lhSCzINHw
For release isn't an option.715Please respect copyright.PENANAG8FKagVpJ8
When down the road, there will be so much to live for.715Please respect copyright.PENANAsMnbeQwf6p
So much to be here for, so many more life lessons to learn715Please respect copyright.PENANA6JMtfqwoMz
And so much more to see.