"I was Born" by Naomi Jean Lewis

I was born

            I was born

                        I was born with darkdarkdark circles under my eyes and an answer on my tongue

            I was damned from the first time I heard the word “Deadline”

            I was damned from the first time I heard the word “Due date”

                       

                        D is for the grade I don’t allow myself to bring home

            D is for diving, which hails the start of breathing again

D is for dumb dumb dumbdumbdumbdumbdumb

No. I’m not. Delete that thought, turn the page and try again-

                        C is for crimson pen slashes on math tests that I can’t bring home

            C is for careful, tiptoeing around my parents

C is for cheerleading, my release and adopted family

B is for ‘Be All You Can Be!’

            B is for be better, be better, be best

                        B is for Believing that there was nothing else

                       

                        A is for Achievement! A is for Achievement!

           

            A is for always tired,

                         always aching,

                         always alone.

A is for almost done.