low grade depression

wolves at the door
arrested into a routine of tiny failures nobody notices but me
just enough to terrify
me after all, not safe
after days, not saved
not well, after all

sometimes i think i'm kidding but i seriously do not believe i will ever be happy and it will be strange to be asked over and over again how did this happen to you you were gonna turn that corner didn't you

i could call on someone but i am resolved
to only be what i can make of myself
be it wolf meat if it be

The Artist As A Young Man (Jalen's Poem)

I AM...

I am creative
I wonder about the creator
I hear the world
I see family and friends
I want a good life
I am creative

I pretend to fall asleep to stay up
I feel happy
I need to not fall on my face
I worry about school
I cry about pain
I am creative

I understand the world
I believe in nothing
I dream about fun times
I try to be good in school
I hope I become a BMX rider
I am still creative

Jalen, September 2011
Poem written from prompts (I am, I need, I hope, etc) given my Social Studies teacher.