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, breathe441Please respect copyright.PENANAWbmupSG043
These are the lessons life taught me.441Please respect copyright.PENANAKkJ5c62sbb
I am no one- or maybe everyone?441Please respect copyright.PENANAzCYKO9cUbB
Just dust blowing in the wind441Please respect copyright.PENANAATyTb7UvJS
Get up, brush off, make it home again441Please respect copyright.PENANAshd2njGanC
Wake up, breathe441Please respect copyright.PENANALUMKnMUoLQ
Hide. Don't show your face, your fears441Please respect copyright.PENANARN9wHPk9BS
They watch you like hawks, eyeing their prey441Please respect copyright.PENANAI4sdXj7dqB
They don't want you near441Please respect copyright.PENANAfcbJczmUh3
Not enough room, you can't play441Please respect copyright.PENANAMATkDiTkl4
They see you fall, laugh behind your back441Please respect copyright.PENANAM7c1OLHpPg
They watch from afar441Please respect copyright.PENANANLvKo7xLak
Putting on a mask441Please respect copyright.PENANAPHnSMnnqDv
Humor me; make me say the word "friends"441Please respect copyright.PENANACJaMkvoV11
So let's play a game:441Please respect copyright.PENANAYxsb1jyoww
One where I walk and fall, and stumble around441Please respect copyright.PENANA6hPe9mminu
Due to legs not quite right.441Please respect copyright.PENANAs0CtkFOWCM
One where you say "oh, she's my friend!"441Please respect copyright.PENANAhnJtbcRZA5
But wouldn't really care if I was dead.441Please respect copyright.PENANAUwuvKJJBd3
I'm just a person to be nice to,441Please respect copyright.PENANAr5bWGzSfih
Because somewhere in that unsaid rule book of society441Please respect copyright.PENANArnvmzDxc1e
It says you need to be nice.441Please respect copyright.PENANA3FcN0j5YAB
Wake up, breathe441Please respect copyright.PENANAwnWqp5GCY9
Get a couple scars - move on.441Please respect copyright.PENANAlrZrqvhu1W
Ride a horse, find that freedom you were yearning441Please respect copyright.PENANA1hzvwZmzZd
Fall in love, realize it was never really meant to be.441Please respect copyright.PENANA7Yz3l45Zhe
Love is always more complicated than it seems.441Please respect copyright.PENANAP33rSmC8rK
Break up, break a heart, fall back in line.441Please respect copyright.PENANAsLvFly4LUh
Just another day in this life of rushing blood.441Please respect copyright.PENANAidsFwYmcnr
Wake up, breathe441Please respect copyright.PENANAjluY6sZvhc
Go back, learn how it all ends441Please respect copyright.PENANANqzFdZMo11
With stabs in the back, rumors running flat, lies spun and undone441Please respect copyright.PENANA2J8zW2Wj1y
And there is me, numb;441Please respect copyright.PENANAILT20rBpYw
Lost in a world that doesn't make any sense.441Please respect copyright.PENANAFIhSyI5mHa
Scared to open her heart for fear of falling apart.441Please respect copyright.PENANAa8vc4Jz1S5
For fear of being torn apart (again).441Please respect copyright.PENANAwwnaHc5VHE
Leave the familiar, move away441Please respect copyright.PENANAkWQUbIy3gD
Gain some independence, what you've always wanted.441Please respect copyright.PENANAb3fzuD8Nlu
Wake up, breathe441Please respect copyright.PENANAKtyk8nraMA
Know this is who you were meant to be.441Please respect copyright.PENANAcHF6pP9f8Y
Find a home in a God you were told about441Please respect copyright.PENANAneIDAH5ofs
But were losing faith in and weren't sure you believed441Please respect copyright.PENANAlsm8bLd4iu
Learn interpretation is key, and love is all that matters.441Please respect copyright.PENANAPADa9ROWgL
Find a way back to the road you once walked on441Please respect copyright.PENANAA60AhDXhyN
Make your own voice heard441Please respect copyright.PENANAQngiRKT8YE
These are lessons life taught me.441Please respect copyright.PENANAnEGKjbWVSU
I'm still falling down, I'm still struggling441Please respect copyright.PENANAeRNwugOei3
Under the weight of loneliness441Please respect copyright.PENANAGMuiPvwbZA
And a multitude of illnesses441Please respect copyright.PENANAzf2Rhzfw55
Disabilities, and inconveniences.441Please respect copyright.PENANA1SXg1KMHXX
But I woke up today, I breathed.441Please respect copyright.PENANAz2rJk6V95q
I'm alive today.441Please respect copyright.PENANAb76OH8FcUm
These are the lessons life taught me.441Please respect copyright.PENANAk53cNinbHN
Not everyday is easy, but it's worth trying.441Please respect copyright.PENANAocbRImIwfp
Because now I know someday it gets better441Please respect copyright.PENANAWtUctgcVnu
I haven't found love441Please respect copyright.PENANAsUVCovoCZd
Or even that one special friend.441Please respect copyright.PENANAftWtSSoWQF
But someday I will.441Please respect copyright.PENANAaEQ3CUBKuP
These are the lessons life taught me441Please respect copyright.PENANA9ASAbeon1R
And this is a poem for those like me who lost their way.441Please respect copyright.PENANAvlTq6jUu4d
With a battle leading with retreat;441Please respect copyright.PENANAS74tXUJ9B3
Those with their autoimmune diseases441Please respect copyright.PENANAfKYxMfDaWt
Or cerebral palsy441Please respect copyright.PENANAWuIWldxciZ
Or anything else441Please respect copyright.PENANA5lj0usEaGW
That made it so life taught them a thing or two.441Please respect copyright.PENANAIIOfU1WAbn
Wake up, breathe441Please respect copyright.PENANAfa3WTUSH8K
For release isn't an option.441Please respect copyright.PENANAE8O3JGV9eD
When down the road, there will be so much to live for.441Please respect copyright.PENANAzromLbjmeI
So much to be here for, so many more life lessons to learn441Please respect copyright.PENANAaFXe2ATUjI
And so much more to see.