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Eleven Poems by ValynnApril 2010 I am a 44-year-old female from Tampa, Fla. These are very short poems written many years ago, when there was little hope. I was infected in 1985 and the years that followed were the darkest I had ever experienced. In 1991, I had less than 50 T cells, was diagnosed with AIDS, and found myself homeless with no hope. Today, I am about to graduate with a second master's degree and I have hope not only for my own future, but the future of all individuals living with HIV. In the Darkness (1991)So many have marched in our madnessSo many have felt our pain Why do we isolate Why do we blame Ourselves in the darkness The Next (1991)Many have died - many have prayed for deathThe victims sit in silence - waiting to pass Pass to the next step, the here after We leave this existence and prepare for the next. Silence (1991)The silent war is onOne that few speak of But one that is felt by many It kills all that are afflicted Showing no mercy - no compassion Just pain But (1991)You can't hear the enemy,But You can hear the screams of the infected You can't touch the enemy But You can touch its victims You can't see the enemy But You can see its devastation Time (1991)Time is of the essenceTime is what we have We make of it what we can Day by Day (1991)Day by dayWe stay and play This little game called life We wake and breathe we wash and leave To something we don't like Eat and sleep, work and play Or just waste away Time will Tell (1992)I never thoughtI'd see the day When eyes saw deeper than reality Bad met good, young met old The door is open will you fall inside Turn out the light Tune out your mind Hear nothing that is said Close your eyes hide inside Time will tell your end Beep Beep (1992)Beep, Beep, Beep, "hold"Food sucks Service is slow We do our best Nightmares-joy-love-the silent war You have to vent Let it out Direct your anger Deal with it Waiting to die - we all will pass When it is our time Free of pain, of guilt, of humiliation. Charlie (1992)The things we sharedThe things we taught each other The knowledge, the power the courage We shared funny moments, sad moments Even moments of pain We know that this is not the end It is only a change There are many stages of life We progress from one to the next Learning every step of the way Since we met My life has changed I no longer find joy in pain There is time to play, time to learn There is time to cry, feel the pain We dance in elevators, cried at awkward moments We joked and almost always got into mischief Bubbles, smiles, love, song, dance, and prayer Pain humiliation, isolation, discrimination, victimization They balance each other, experience all I Never Thought (August 1995)I never thought I'd live to see my 30th birthdayI never thought I'd live to see my brother turn 30 I never thought I'd live to see myself back in college I never thought I'd live to see the purchase of my own condo I never thought I'd see my life so full of energy For Not (March 28, 1996)My life seems to be nothing more than existing.I wake every morning no enthusiasm to live No plans for the future, no plans for the day Nothing to look forward to Eat, sleep, breathe Nothing brings me joy In this vast world of technology, nothing to empower my mind or my will to continue Day in, day out the same No parades, no parties, no celebration Life is but an existence for who For me For not This article was provided by 2010 Poetry Month at TheBody.com.
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