I am running:
Poetry is not a release for me
It is a burden, a reminder
It is something you stand for and with.
But I am not you,
You mistake me for your past.
But I am MY OWN future
A life the WILL last
A will STRONGER than your own,
Yet I crumble at your word.
You tell me I am not trying...
But for God's sake I am!
But He isn't why I'm doing this
For I am who I am!

I am running:
Running from a past that isn't my own,
A past everyone expects me to repeat.
Don't lie to me,
I see it in your eyes,
In your condescending tone!
I see it in the way you never trust me,
In the way you push me until I'm about to break.
I start to decline,
But I bring myself up.
No, not for you but for ME!

I am running:
Every day is a struggle,
Doing my best to stay away.
No free time, even if I allowed myself any.
Always taking care of your choice!
But then that's all I am,
Your choice, Your mistake.

I am running:
Looking for someone to help
Realizing nobody will...
Three more years they say,
Or an 'I dealt with them too.'
Nobody is listening,
I push myself to a point
A point I have yet to break, but
Not breaking means not trying hard enough,
Yet breaking has me making your mistakes.

I am running:
From closed doors and faint whispers,
The praise heard for but not to me
It's not truly praise, for all I am...
All I am are BRAGGING rights!
Social media, friends and family
To them I am perfect,
A role model to behold!
I resent every comment,
Every praise coming from other lips
I resent all the praise for you.
YOU made the perfect thing
Something GOOD came from your MISTAKE
A mistake to them I am not.
Once the RUINATION of your life,
NOW your salvation!
You NEED it that way,
You need your image straightened.

I am running:
Like a child playing tag.
I'm it,
Tagging not a who, but a what.
A college,
Low tuition or maybe a scholarship,
One that's far, far away.
And in three years I will be free...
And on that day,
I WILL STOP RUNNING!