Being so small
So quiet, keeping to myself
Not sure enough to put my hand up
Not asking for help
Not using the notes
Not speaking up
Not focusing on one thing at a time
Not turning in assignments
Not taking proper care of myself
Not eating three full meals a day
Not making much of myself
Just barely scraping by

But there's a lot I've got to say
To a little someone
To little me
Because there's just so much
That I just won't tell me
From this path, I've gone astray
I would say these next words to anyone
Hold them up so that they could touch
The sky and then the stars;

You've got to be sure of your answers
You've got to ask for help when you need it
You've got to use the notes
You've got to speak up
You've got to take it one step at a time
You've got to turn things in
You've got to take care of you too
You've got to eat enough
You've got to make what you can of yourself
Not just scraping by

Be sure of yourself
Don't just be a book on the shelf

Ask for help when you need it
Don't let yourself fall too far
Let them know who you are

Use the notes
They're there for you
So go and do
As best as you can do
And see how great you can be

Speak up
Shout it loud
Let them know who you want to be
Don't be like little me
Be what you can be

Take it one step at a time
Not twenty and rhyme
One step at a time
One day at a time

Turn in what you've got done
Don't hold yourself back, ***

Take care of you
Don't let your body turn blue
Do what you gotta do
And just do you

Eat enough
Because you are enough
Don't take it out on your body
Even if you just want to be a hottie

Make what you can of yourself
Don't be a blank canvas sitting on the shelf
Go get that degree
Go fight for your love
Go fight for your life

Don't just scrape by
Or life will just pass you by.

- Jay M
February 6th, 2020