11, pen & ink

Art by Hevvon Edwards

Just Breathe

Poem by Emperiss Usanga

I feel like I speak without being heard

with every word I fade farther and farther 

from importance

I act out because my actions seem to speak louder than my words and 

I’m SCREAMING,

these scars on my wrist are BLEEDING 

yet you still don’t SEE me.

breathe 

turn down your music and take out your

headphones Emperiss

yet don’t you see music is what stops me

from being abusive 

it stops all these 

delusions that society is trying so hard to hide

stop trying to take away my remedy before 

my calmness turns into insanity

just—

breathe

public speaking

breathe

my dad

breathe

self-esteem 

breathe

why isn’t it helping?

why can’t I just

breathe 

no asthma but my inhaler isn’t working

if only there was a place 

to run to where my anxiety wasn’t lurking

it’s taking a toll 

LOOK AT ME 

do you SEE me yet?

do you see what I NEED yet?

DO you FEEl what I FEEl yet?

can’t you see that I can’t breathe yet

just breathe

just breathe 

just breathe 

JUST FUCKING BREATHE

see your worth 

recognize your beauty 

recreate that happiness 

forget the pain

remember who you are Emperiss

and breathe 

just breathe