I am here as one of you.
So listen.
I mean really listen
without anything in your way
to stop the waves
from crashing over your drums.
If you are "listening,"
why are you still holding onto
that yellow highlighter
like it could save you
when you're already drowning?
You are not living.
The action of running
in circles and in place
is a living paradox.
I am telling you as one of you.
I know how tired eyes
is not just an expression.
They weigh on shoulders and spines
like knotted chains.
They strangle and leave scars on hearts
because they drain the life out of you
when you are just trying to swallow air.
If you know more about sleepless nights, all nighters,
and never having a full eight,
please tell me
what are you accomplishing?
What are you learning from this?
Are you learning that humans can be
pushed and shoved into
the spines of books?
Well, they can and do.
So why are you letting yourself
fold like a paper crane
just for the sake of a letter?
Why is it when you walk
it seems like you are
standing over quicksand?
Always floating yet sinking.
I am not telling you to give up.
I am not telling you what you are doing
is not going to make you successful.
I am not saying that you are not going
to make it to that finish line.
I just want you to see what you are doing to yourself.
You are digging an early grave.
Your heart can only beat so fast for so long.
Your brain can only take so much.
You can only take so much.
Your soul will die sooner than your body.
If you let me explain, the facts you would hyperventilate.
You would panic if I told you.
So, I have decided to let you go.
I cannot force you to see or to hear.
Part of living is seeing,
but if you are surviving the only "seeing"
you are doing will only ever be
blank and empty.
You will remain vacant and
I can only pause you.
You have to decide if slowing down
could be just as fulfilling
as the wait
for the crash and then burn.
