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Politics and Activism

Out Of My Mind

A spoken word piece that I wrote during midterms week.

Haley Arthur
Oct 17, 2016
Berea College
16
Out Of My Mind
theworkher.com

I am out of my mind

I am, I am, I am

I am no longer attached to what has been broken; letting the pieces flutter away in the wind like debris in the New York streets.

I am ... tired. Of not being understood, of not being considered, of my humble offerings being spat upon without even the slightest recognition of their crannies and cracks, their hand-crafted curves and tears that went into their creation.

Every splinter I got I praised, because the pain made it labor ... and I had always wanted to know what it meant to create a 'labor of love'.

I am ... sick. Sick from the disease that has infiltrated this world; torn families apart, polluted our oceans until their deaths, dropped bombs on our nations-

I ...

I am grateful. Grateful that my mother never set me up for a false parade. Never promised me candy when she could only provide live-giving beans. Never let me hope for a miracle when I could work toward a goal.

I am ... strong. Carrying my family, our ancestors, their spirit and our culture on my back, I will climb. Blood running from my aching feet, dirt stained in my teeth - clawing - I will climb - and I wont stop until-

I am out of my mind. And when I climb too high up and the ceiling blocks my path, I will turn that ceiling into glass, a victorious fist shooting through the air, sending electric shards of glass flying - declaring, exclaiming in exultation ... a song of victory. Freedom.

I am out of my mind.

I couldn't be contained.


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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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