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.