A glimpse at a different part of me

​A lot of people don’t know this about me, but I enjoy writing poetry. I have no formal education in poetry, and frankly it’s not usually very good, but for me it is one of the purest and most natural ways to put my emotions into words. I have always been a good writer. Something about putting a pen to paper and letting the words flow out of me has always made sense.
 
I wrote in my last post about how social media and the internet have become a proverbial highlight reel, in which we try to make ourselves look as successful and happy as possible, even if we’re miserable. I think it’s time for a change. It’s time to be more open, more brutally honest about who we are.
 
With that in mind, I decided I wanted to give you all a sample of the kind of poetry I write. It’s very simple, and maybe not so elegant, but it’s me. No filters, no highlight reel; just me. This poem came out of a day when I was appreciating on a very deep level how much my family means to me, and I started to think about what I wished they knew in that very moment. I hope you enjoy it.
 
If I don’t wake up, if God decides I’m done;
If my war ends, all the battles lost and won.
 
Tell my mom I love her, tell her I’m ok,
That it’s all thanks to her I never lost my way.
 
Make sure to tell my dad I was his biggest fan
That my admiration wasn’t just written in the sand.
 
And when my brother cries, give him a hug for me.
Tell him I’ll be watching, knowing he’ll succeed.
 
My sister might try to say she doesn’t miss me much.
Just sit and be there for her, the way I always was.
 
I have some friends that kept me grounded in my life,
Please check in on them at least once or twice.
 
If this is the last time I close my eyes on my war
My only regret will be
I didn’t say
“I love you”
More.
 
To my mom, my dad, John, and Julia; I am who I am because of the support you four give me. I hope you realize this is not me expressing any kind of sadness. I love you all so much, and I know I don’t say it enough, but I hope this has helped convey that you all have meant more to me than I can ever truly express. I can’t wait to make you proud.
 
 
 

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