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, breathe663Please respect copyright.PENANAGH1Rv35FG5
These are the lessons life taught me.663Please respect copyright.PENANA4fHAlTFRSX
I am no one- or maybe everyone?663Please respect copyright.PENANA4WvGaHDvjx
Just dust blowing in the wind663Please respect copyright.PENANATsB21oXLSo
Get up, brush off, make it home again663Please respect copyright.PENANAJLX8TvPtKO
Wake up, breathe663Please respect copyright.PENANALNLfN60LNt
Hide. Don't show your face, your fears663Please respect copyright.PENANAn12or6iVST
They watch you like hawks, eyeing their prey663Please respect copyright.PENANA385Zku9PH3
They don't want you near663Please respect copyright.PENANAE4Mak7Tqf3
Not enough room, you can't play663Please respect copyright.PENANAf09YE87rqk
They see you fall, laugh behind your back663Please respect copyright.PENANAezRK1oHdJh
They watch from afar663Please respect copyright.PENANAHpUSXhRFth
Putting on a mask663Please respect copyright.PENANAhdawECr9SQ
Humor me; make me say the word "friends"663Please respect copyright.PENANAsnjOrTnak0
So let's play a game:663Please respect copyright.PENANAOYvvucp1qC
One where I walk and fall, and stumble around663Please respect copyright.PENANABrn8bSK7gY
Due to legs not quite right.663Please respect copyright.PENANA7AIPaUBQlo
One where you say "oh, she's my friend!"663Please respect copyright.PENANAMcrw1KPbA8
But wouldn't really care if I was dead.663Please respect copyright.PENANAx5MapNYtiX
I'm just a person to be nice to,663Please respect copyright.PENANAOrTvyvwOSl
Because somewhere in that unsaid rule book of society663Please respect copyright.PENANAByhG60Dh8x
It says you need to be nice.663Please respect copyright.PENANARRXNALVkJJ
Wake up, breathe663Please respect copyright.PENANAadWwVN2cyG
Get a couple scars - move on.663Please respect copyright.PENANAaf491Cwj7s
Ride a horse, find that freedom you were yearning663Please respect copyright.PENANARnfQNOJ2HF
Fall in love, realize it was never really meant to be.663Please respect copyright.PENANAAFidP3OHPQ
Love is always more complicated than it seems.663Please respect copyright.PENANAW6EIjvcJCq
Break up, break a heart, fall back in line.663Please respect copyright.PENANAMiRZc4BJHQ
Just another day in this life of rushing blood.663Please respect copyright.PENANAUMc2nJnaXu
Wake up, breathe663Please respect copyright.PENANABsPJJqwo6S
Go back, learn how it all ends663Please respect copyright.PENANAxBVApoYBUB
With stabs in the back, rumors running flat, lies spun and undone663Please respect copyright.PENANAZguCYQgF7D
And there is me, numb;663Please respect copyright.PENANAaKiNYRV5iP
Lost in a world that doesn't make any sense.663Please respect copyright.PENANAyTcuIWM99F
Scared to open her heart for fear of falling apart.663Please respect copyright.PENANAfAN5q4zB38
For fear of being torn apart (again).663Please respect copyright.PENANAsr5DIJZ7zn
Leave the familiar, move away663Please respect copyright.PENANAZI66roCjjG
Gain some independence, what you've always wanted.663Please respect copyright.PENANAGIuQ7m0F76
Wake up, breathe663Please respect copyright.PENANAj2bfQsxkNh
Know this is who you were meant to be.663Please respect copyright.PENANAOVXZlNbVsF
Find a home in a God you were told about663Please respect copyright.PENANAR32LPqJHuu
But were losing faith in and weren't sure you believed663Please respect copyright.PENANAAPzYEPppnD
Learn interpretation is key, and love is all that matters.663Please respect copyright.PENANAjtGNPrw0No
Find a way back to the road you once walked on663Please respect copyright.PENANAnSG9KqTj86
Make your own voice heard663Please respect copyright.PENANA8Pn4V8KVm4
These are lessons life taught me.663Please respect copyright.PENANAdJ8tbph7Nt
I'm still falling down, I'm still struggling663Please respect copyright.PENANArUtQLpFtdr
Under the weight of loneliness663Please respect copyright.PENANAj2xdjXckvH
And a multitude of illnesses663Please respect copyright.PENANAHk2DGC5PWf
Disabilities, and inconveniences.663Please respect copyright.PENANAbVpNaidpVy
But I woke up today, I breathed.663Please respect copyright.PENANA2aglzSS0SX
I'm alive today.663Please respect copyright.PENANAYN7p0wVcoX
These are the lessons life taught me.663Please respect copyright.PENANAiRH50SNjTp
Not everyday is easy, but it's worth trying.663Please respect copyright.PENANAaLitOlACzr
Because now I know someday it gets better663Please respect copyright.PENANAznIrWZI0xj
I haven't found love663Please respect copyright.PENANAFu6VmtRd7j
Or even that one special friend.663Please respect copyright.PENANAofLqvqBPl3
But someday I will.663Please respect copyright.PENANAX0b89HVlVt
These are the lessons life taught me663Please respect copyright.PENANAdH9DNDP8xL
And this is a poem for those like me who lost their way.663Please respect copyright.PENANAmbkM7yeBrT
With a battle leading with retreat;663Please respect copyright.PENANAvVNCaOIYnx
Those with their autoimmune diseases663Please respect copyright.PENANAsuG0NnEjzs
Or cerebral palsy663Please respect copyright.PENANA2JQUlcHeyv
Or anything else663Please respect copyright.PENANAhHPlofZATR
That made it so life taught them a thing or two.663Please respect copyright.PENANAqlB7VAP0Sp
Wake up, breathe663Please respect copyright.PENANABdHD3LFqMI
For release isn't an option.663Please respect copyright.PENANArujyt6B05C
When down the road, there will be so much to live for.663Please respect copyright.PENANAH9V1UuAR5N
So much to be here for, so many more life lessons to learn663Please respect copyright.PENANA6pCPW807hy
And so much more to see.