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, breathe708Please respect copyright.PENANAjB5R7AHbS1
These are the lessons life taught me.708Please respect copyright.PENANALcjEQsoSzw
I am no one- or maybe everyone?708Please respect copyright.PENANArDRZHOqzHH
Just dust blowing in the wind708Please respect copyright.PENANAoXP4FRyiv9
Get up, brush off, make it home again708Please respect copyright.PENANAS23bY2OBDh
Wake up, breathe708Please respect copyright.PENANAjpqMHNxkqG
Hide. Don't show your face, your fears708Please respect copyright.PENANAcujlG8fnlZ
They watch you like hawks, eyeing their prey708Please respect copyright.PENANANpAAwTUZ21
They don't want you near708Please respect copyright.PENANAEZ6L0j3F4Y
Not enough room, you can't play708Please respect copyright.PENANA7mTmkeHfbc
They see you fall, laugh behind your back708Please respect copyright.PENANATyxxwPY2cX
They watch from afar708Please respect copyright.PENANAi7Xy0SWgb9
Putting on a mask708Please respect copyright.PENANAtFly9fPSaS
Humor me; make me say the word "friends"708Please respect copyright.PENANAtrg9Ef0pT9
So let's play a game:708Please respect copyright.PENANAf3Dx1n4cZ3
One where I walk and fall, and stumble around708Please respect copyright.PENANAV3OxgHrcwR
Due to legs not quite right.708Please respect copyright.PENANAYCWKrAtbXM
One where you say "oh, she's my friend!"708Please respect copyright.PENANAtYVxVekkVr
But wouldn't really care if I was dead.708Please respect copyright.PENANANalbtxVoff
I'm just a person to be nice to,708Please respect copyright.PENANAlDFxri56Do
Because somewhere in that unsaid rule book of society708Please respect copyright.PENANAYPhmfoXMAT
It says you need to be nice.708Please respect copyright.PENANAHLPUDNEm1G
Wake up, breathe708Please respect copyright.PENANAaZQ5NbCPLh
Get a couple scars - move on.708Please respect copyright.PENANAVaJUKVVIQS
Ride a horse, find that freedom you were yearning708Please respect copyright.PENANA25dUvuGptJ
Fall in love, realize it was never really meant to be.708Please respect copyright.PENANASPpXX0JN1Z
Love is always more complicated than it seems.708Please respect copyright.PENANABWr5kt5hlF
Break up, break a heart, fall back in line.708Please respect copyright.PENANAd2mBwbf3L9
Just another day in this life of rushing blood.708Please respect copyright.PENANATQLiTsQz2K
Wake up, breathe708Please respect copyright.PENANA2d10tThjDy
Go back, learn how it all ends708Please respect copyright.PENANAhpdFPouR7s
With stabs in the back, rumors running flat, lies spun and undone708Please respect copyright.PENANA9dudYA0hPU
And there is me, numb;708Please respect copyright.PENANAjHgbxfr05e
Lost in a world that doesn't make any sense.708Please respect copyright.PENANA864przRDhN
Scared to open her heart for fear of falling apart.708Please respect copyright.PENANAoiwq7gWzpd
For fear of being torn apart (again).708Please respect copyright.PENANAR3TjlbKl0e
Leave the familiar, move away708Please respect copyright.PENANAiKu58zYGpV
Gain some independence, what you've always wanted.708Please respect copyright.PENANABAik2UDhch
Wake up, breathe708Please respect copyright.PENANAfQNZU2rqhm
Know this is who you were meant to be.708Please respect copyright.PENANABK2wnz70YO
Find a home in a God you were told about708Please respect copyright.PENANAly0BhxI6Ei
But were losing faith in and weren't sure you believed708Please respect copyright.PENANA5UULc5ssSJ
Learn interpretation is key, and love is all that matters.708Please respect copyright.PENANASd8xKFs8Mq
Find a way back to the road you once walked on708Please respect copyright.PENANAXrKfYKivpI
Make your own voice heard708Please respect copyright.PENANAZl1hgp66C0
These are lessons life taught me.708Please respect copyright.PENANAuVCOzgXrC7
I'm still falling down, I'm still struggling708Please respect copyright.PENANAVnISyqBTMe
Under the weight of loneliness708Please respect copyright.PENANAeQmogKaD7u
And a multitude of illnesses708Please respect copyright.PENANA3Li0fWGSMp
Disabilities, and inconveniences.708Please respect copyright.PENANAXUN4iCY841
But I woke up today, I breathed.708Please respect copyright.PENANAHNFjiZjg7F
I'm alive today.708Please respect copyright.PENANAuUCBsmfhDt
These are the lessons life taught me.708Please respect copyright.PENANAbReiocNhlI
Not everyday is easy, but it's worth trying.708Please respect copyright.PENANASv0KOGLenU
Because now I know someday it gets better708Please respect copyright.PENANArvOzIKwb9A
I haven't found love708Please respect copyright.PENANAZwRjD4OtxK
Or even that one special friend.708Please respect copyright.PENANAKhr2F3bvhg
But someday I will.708Please respect copyright.PENANAZoIiPefgzm
These are the lessons life taught me708Please respect copyright.PENANAS0fN94S6Qr
And this is a poem for those like me who lost their way.708Please respect copyright.PENANAIVRXlP5cTk
With a battle leading with retreat;708Please respect copyright.PENANAnZK2676Yf0
Those with their autoimmune diseases708Please respect copyright.PENANAcomKOp6KYb
Or cerebral palsy708Please respect copyright.PENANAEXjYpf9Mot
Or anything else708Please respect copyright.PENANAnI6psrMxWT
That made it so life taught them a thing or two.708Please respect copyright.PENANA92YloUeB9r
Wake up, breathe708Please respect copyright.PENANAiNkzU5dYJv
For release isn't an option.708Please respect copyright.PENANA358UyqQABP
When down the road, there will be so much to live for.708Please respect copyright.PENANAgMRrXNyX4o
So much to be here for, so many more life lessons to learn708Please respect copyright.PENANABMrJHIm8uI
And so much more to see.