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, breathe662Please respect copyright.PENANA5ycWUlvw4G
These are the lessons life taught me.662Please respect copyright.PENANAM33k14p8Hu
I am no one- or maybe everyone?662Please respect copyright.PENANAGeYs0WSXJf
Just dust blowing in the wind662Please respect copyright.PENANAfVCf4jJr9x
Get up, brush off, make it home again662Please respect copyright.PENANAbOBLZ1bkwX
Wake up, breathe662Please respect copyright.PENANAdkAac83yj3
Hide. Don't show your face, your fears662Please respect copyright.PENANAhBQbCbGGtW
They watch you like hawks, eyeing their prey662Please respect copyright.PENANA30dUeDRmq0
They don't want you near662Please respect copyright.PENANA7bKJV51hTm
Not enough room, you can't play662Please respect copyright.PENANAyk5n5cKyEj
They see you fall, laugh behind your back662Please respect copyright.PENANARZcD30QdcK
They watch from afar662Please respect copyright.PENANAhWRLXePPlk
Putting on a mask662Please respect copyright.PENANApzo4TmAxVP
Humor me; make me say the word "friends"662Please respect copyright.PENANAbAe5E9g6SV
So let's play a game:662Please respect copyright.PENANAg72lqgWfkn
One where I walk and fall, and stumble around662Please respect copyright.PENANAEDcbQAn7au
Due to legs not quite right.662Please respect copyright.PENANAnOGeC5POGU
One where you say "oh, she's my friend!"662Please respect copyright.PENANAOvt6EUSGkv
But wouldn't really care if I was dead.662Please respect copyright.PENANALQBk6WLq4o
I'm just a person to be nice to,662Please respect copyright.PENANAhpiPOjcVXe
Because somewhere in that unsaid rule book of society662Please respect copyright.PENANACWOvoJwA7p
It says you need to be nice.662Please respect copyright.PENANAUpt9tjprKQ
Wake up, breathe662Please respect copyright.PENANAkbqZotZUCR
Get a couple scars - move on.662Please respect copyright.PENANA7aBVoIlzBg
Ride a horse, find that freedom you were yearning662Please respect copyright.PENANAxEOePL3Cf8
Fall in love, realize it was never really meant to be.662Please respect copyright.PENANA6PpzgQ32h6
Love is always more complicated than it seems.662Please respect copyright.PENANAcIAjGmbseV
Break up, break a heart, fall back in line.662Please respect copyright.PENANA78VmDjWkkW
Just another day in this life of rushing blood.662Please respect copyright.PENANAqoRNdbcPje
Wake up, breathe662Please respect copyright.PENANAekqIdacW0D
Go back, learn how it all ends662Please respect copyright.PENANAyWSRYgb6wi
With stabs in the back, rumors running flat, lies spun and undone662Please respect copyright.PENANAHbqrterQH3
And there is me, numb;662Please respect copyright.PENANA4OeBuRZ5RW
Lost in a world that doesn't make any sense.662Please respect copyright.PENANAF7KRoVo6i6
Scared to open her heart for fear of falling apart.662Please respect copyright.PENANAha4FtyZHpk
For fear of being torn apart (again).662Please respect copyright.PENANA7mQbqwBcQn
Leave the familiar, move away662Please respect copyright.PENANAtCFnR3J1jb
Gain some independence, what you've always wanted.662Please respect copyright.PENANAL1FArAI76l
Wake up, breathe662Please respect copyright.PENANAvrtAzb9zvh
Know this is who you were meant to be.662Please respect copyright.PENANA8btIk3B5Um
Find a home in a God you were told about662Please respect copyright.PENANA6X0HD5WhjI
But were losing faith in and weren't sure you believed662Please respect copyright.PENANA9SamddFd2r
Learn interpretation is key, and love is all that matters.662Please respect copyright.PENANA6FSRgedfai
Find a way back to the road you once walked on662Please respect copyright.PENANAirFyJwGtYP
Make your own voice heard662Please respect copyright.PENANA9oUxI0bsoA
These are lessons life taught me.662Please respect copyright.PENANAv5bFO01YYu
I'm still falling down, I'm still struggling662Please respect copyright.PENANATJkn3CLEsp
Under the weight of loneliness662Please respect copyright.PENANARWkfa9NLTZ
And a multitude of illnesses662Please respect copyright.PENANAxmIZE0kLrh
Disabilities, and inconveniences.662Please respect copyright.PENANAI9VAyIC3iR
But I woke up today, I breathed.662Please respect copyright.PENANA4YuGnN0MBy
I'm alive today.662Please respect copyright.PENANAKomwdEO4Vv
These are the lessons life taught me.662Please respect copyright.PENANA3t9ZRzruYU
Not everyday is easy, but it's worth trying.662Please respect copyright.PENANA9U2o2pR2Nt
Because now I know someday it gets better662Please respect copyright.PENANA0hv9o4tLOf
I haven't found love662Please respect copyright.PENANARC5oXMuWVt
Or even that one special friend.662Please respect copyright.PENANAuzRrRkwDau
But someday I will.662Please respect copyright.PENANA68eG6dpjZu
These are the lessons life taught me662Please respect copyright.PENANAQBBbVMCY1U
And this is a poem for those like me who lost their way.662Please respect copyright.PENANAc22BcPdBAR
With a battle leading with retreat;662Please respect copyright.PENANAe98eByskJj
Those with their autoimmune diseases662Please respect copyright.PENANAAptv2R0WSN
Or cerebral palsy662Please respect copyright.PENANATy8jmAxCD2
Or anything else662Please respect copyright.PENANAwMOYlYYibV
That made it so life taught them a thing or two.662Please respect copyright.PENANAcRkeJVQApJ
Wake up, breathe662Please respect copyright.PENANARWEWL3uBBd
For release isn't an option.662Please respect copyright.PENANAHYggD8SPGy
When down the road, there will be so much to live for.662Please respect copyright.PENANAj4E237fTFI
So much to be here for, so many more life lessons to learn662Please respect copyright.PENANAFfanjtosAD
And so much more to see.