I can't breathe.

It's 2019 and I have no room for anything

My thoughts have no place in the world

My soul feels completely out of place

I am completely out of place.

And yet, I find myself here performing this poem

Conquering this stage fright that I made up in my head

Giving the best performance of my life

Because why not, it's 2019

But I still can't breathe.

I can say that I'm oppressed

I can spit out stats and facts

But it's not going to change

I don't think it ever will change

So when will I be able to breathe?

Probably when I'm dead.

When all the prejudices in the world fall away

When my race or my gender or the color of my skin stops mattering

When I can just be me without any hate

When I don't have to fear for my life every day.

I'm a wishful thinker

A hopeless dreamer

One of those that just fall inline

My fears take over and I'm cast in gray like everybody else

Maybe I'll be able to breathe one day.