I know it’s just a game
But a loss hurts just the same
Sports can bring people together
But just as easily tear them apart
I know it’s not a big deal
I know it’s not the end of the world
But every loss sure feels that way
“It’s not a big deal,” you can tell me all you want
But try reasoning with a maniac
Try telling a fanatic how to feel
It doesn’t matter that what we’re feeling, “isn’t real”
It doesn’t matter that we’re not in or at the game
This is our identity, this is our team
We live and die with them
We breathe the air that they breathe
We feel the pain of their losses
We’re there to support, win, lose, or draw
These are our sons, these are our boys
These are the people that we support
We find camaraderie in fandom
We find succor in one another
We lean on our team
We lean on our fellow man
We’re here to cheer in full throat
One focus, one mind
We find our identity in one another
We find comfort in our team
Even though we’re not playing, it’s always us vs them
We’re a part of this
Same as coaches and players
We might not have a direct impact
But you know for sure, we’re there
A true fan follows through thick and thin
We share in the glory, and we share in the misery
It’s something that’s hard to explain
At the end of the day, this isn’t just a game
Category Archives: Poetry
Young & Dumb
I used to be so naive
So unaware of how things worked
But I was stubborn
Thought I knew best
My opinion was the only one that mattered
I knew better than the rest
My pride would be my downfall
My hubris sealed my fate
The wisdom of a hundred men
Could not compare to one young in age
“I am king, hear me roar!”
I would pound my chest
I always wanted a pat on the back
Thought I deserved endless praise
Full of delusion, full of jealous conceit
I thought I was the shit, as teenagers often do
Thought I was the center of the universe
Thought that I was always on your mind
But little did I know
Not even a seed of thought
Not even a blip on the radar
I was a nobody
Out of sight, out of mind
No one even knew my name
No one could pair me with a face
I was everyone and no one
Just a generic face
I was never meant for the foreground
Never meant to be a star
I only sought attention because I didn’t know my place
Misunderstood by all, including myself
Didn’t know what I was meant for, couldn’t save myself
I let my problems fester
Let them grow to immense size
I focused on the problem and never looked for solutions
Couldn’t even do the bare minimum
Couldn’t see past my pride
I knew that I was broken, knew I was in pain
But I didn’t want to look for answers
So of course nothing changed
Until I drilled to the root everything would remain the same
I was young and I was dumb
But at some point I learned
At some point I let go of my ego and my pride
At some point I admitted that I didn’t have all the answers
At some point I realized that there was so much more to learn
At some point I grew up and that was enough
Wasting Time
Some of us are just wasting time
Letting the days go by
Letting opportunities slip through
We want to find success
Want to live good lives
We have a vision for what life should look like
But aren’t willing to work hard
Aren’t willing to try
Aren’t willing to see it through
We want to go from point A to B
But aren’t interested in finding out what comes between
We reach our hands to God hoping and praying
Asking for fame, asking for fortune
Asking for blessings, asking for success
We wish we could be something greater than what we are
But aren’t willing to put in the effort
Don’t you know that effort breeds success?
We don’t bleed, we don’t sweat, we don’t cry
We want things easy, so we don’t try
Some of us are just wasting time
Hoping that things will change for the better
That life will bless us with miracles
But what have we done to expect so much?
When did we become so entitled?
Acting like people owe us favors
Believing that the world should cater to our needs
Since when did the results become greater than the process?
Since when did skipping steps get you to where you want to go?
Some of us are just wasting time
Jealous of others, not wanting to see them succeed
In some ways it hurts us to see them prosper
We’d rather be petty than figure out the best way to proceed
Some of us are just wasting time
It’s easier to cry and complain, bitch and moan
Than it is to really try
At the slightest bit of hardship you give up and cry
No mental fortitude, no resolve, no drive
No desire to break the cycle within your mind
Would rather make excuses, shift blame
Would rather die than give up your pride
But any second not spent on bettering yourself is just wasting time
Destined to be mediocre, destined to be stuck
Destined to dig yourself deeper in your rut
Destined to be a loser for as long as you remain stuck in your ways
For as long as you’re refusing to work
For as long as you’re caught up in the glory
Nothing will change until you’re determined to make it happen
Nothing will change until you have a plan
Some of us are just wasting time
Hoping and praying for answers
Wishing that opportunities will come
But nothing will happen if we don’t get shit done
Nothing in life comes easy
We’re not toddlers, not kids anymore
The world owes us nothing
Everything we want, we have to work for
The best things in life take blood, sweat, and tears
Nothing less than our best will lead to success
All I can do is pray that you find your way
I wish you nothing but the best
I hope you find success
If only you would stop wasting time
Better On My Own
We used to be close
But we’ve grown apart
We used to be aligned
But now we are not
We were on convergent paths
But now I’ve changed
A part of me wishes that we were still the same
But that is never to be, never again
We are different you and I
Only meant to intersect, not to intertwine
I mourned what we lost a long time ago
I’m over it now, we can’t go back
I’m only moving forwards
Only moving onwards
I never meant to leave you behind
But that’s just the way it goes
My top priority these days is continuous growth
You had your chance to grow alongside me
You had your chance to help me through
We tried it your way
Now we’ll try it mine
Your intentions were the only thing you ever had in mind
But intention is not reality
What you thought would work didn’t
I don’t blame you though, for how would we have known?
We could’ve worked through it together
Tried something else, made up a new gameplan
But you thought you knew best
Weren’t gonna rest
Until you molded and shaped my life to fit your vision
But that was never what was intended
I had always been built different
Always meant for something else
For a long time I didn’t know what it was
But now it’s revealed itself
I won’t settle for anything less
Everything is a failure if it isn’t my best
I’ll put my all into this endeavor
Do everything in my power to live the life I deserve
Work harder for my goals than I’ve ever worked before
This is my life purpose, through hard work I deserve this
The only way I’ll live the life I want to live is with effort
I’m sure you know this
But you still found the chance to bring me down
Still felt the need to rein me back
We’re not the same as we used to be
We used to be close
But we’ve grown apart
We used to be aligned
But now we are not
We tried it your way
Now we’ll try it mine
I don’t need you anymore
You’ve outgrown your use
We had our chance to grow together
We could’ve tried to work through
But we’ve went in separate ways
And I don’t need you
I’m better on my own
Better without you
Better on my own
No longer subject to your abuse
Better on my own
I’m capable of doing this alone
I didn’t wanna leave you behind
But it’s clear that I have to
You’re the one holding me back
I’m sorry, it’s time to axe you
Lend Your Ear
Everyone always seems to have an opinion
Thinking that what they have to say matters most
Putting in their two cents when nobody asked
Whatever happened to lending an ear, to listening?
Whatever happened to speaking only when necessary?
Why is there a need to fill the void?
Why are words spoken when nothing need be said?
The silence can be deafening
But it can also be tranquil, full of peace
A reprieve from the fake news cycle
A brief moment of reflection and contemplation
A moment of silence where we can be together
Soak in each other’s presence and be at peace
You didn’t ask for my opinion, you didn’t ask me to speak
All you needed was an ear to hear
All you needed was for me to be there
So that is what I’ll give
If there’s more I can do, you’ll let me know
But I won’t make this about myself
I won’t say, “don’t worry. I’ve been there before.”
I won’t say, “I know your pain.”
I won’t equate my situation with yours
For even though there may be similarities
Our stories are not the same
Each one is unique
Each individual has different tools
Each individual walks a different path
We have our similarities and our differences
We can leave it at that
I will be there to comfort those who are hurting
I will be there to show that I care
I will listen first, and speak later
Because all I need to do is show that I’m there
The silence can be deafening, but no words need be spoken
I won’t fill the air with noise if you’re feeling broken
I will listen first, and embrace you afterwards
I will speak if necessary but I won’t prattle without a care
You know that I’ll be there
I’m always there to listen
Always willing to lend an ear
The silence may be deafening
But it’s better than words thrown around without care
Sometimes all you need is a shoulder to cry on
An ear to hear
Opinions don’t matter when all you need is care
So shut up and listen
Don’t feel the need to fill the air
Listen first and just be there
Lend your ear and go from there
JHUMWRITES—A Mental Health Blog 