A long time ago I experienced these dreams,

I dreamt of girls, success, being part of the basketball team.

I loved these dreams, and enjoyed every time I slept,

Knowing that each time I dreamt, hell, I never knew what to expect.

These dreams were wonderful, promising great fortune to me!

I dreamt of all the good things in life, good things I wanted to see!

 

Then I woke up.

 

I woke up to the darkness that actually surrounded my school,

The darkness that surrounded this prison full of hating ghouls.

This prison that I awoke to every single day,

Nothing the dreams had promised, I was left dismay.

I hated my dreams for lying, for cheating, for deceiving me!

Nothing happened the way I dreamt, life was, never pristine.

 

So I locked myself away.

 

I locked myself away emotionally, I detached myself from society.

I chained myself up, threw away the key, I succumbed to anxiety.

Eventually the chains surrounding me, keeping me away from friends and goals,

had me only focused on myself, not caring about a single soul

These dreams I had were full of lies, nothing was the way it seemed

I didn't know what to do, except stop with the dreams.

 

So I stopped caring.

 

So for 2 grueling years I was alone,

Shoving away opportunities, the light on situations was never shown,

I became depressed, fed up with my life, single and full of hate

Until a chance conversation my Junior year changed by fate

A teacher and coach asked me to go to an open gym and weight lifting session

I thought it was a good idea, and I wanted to make a good impression.

 

So I started being active.

 

At the end of my junior summer, I could only squat 95 pounds

My bench press was a joke, but I never did frown

I was terrible at basketball

Many a time I would fall

I would get back up and brush it off

People would look at me and just scoff.

 

So I waited

 

I waited until season started, and waited I did

I waited almost 6 months before results came in

In fact it wasn't what I expected, I rode the bench for most of the time

But hey! I had a senior buddy, who was always by my side.

Until one day I realized that I was never going to get to play

So I changed my life, and my entire mindset changed that day

 

So I perceived success

 

When season ended I didn't give up, I wanted to go from good to well.

I had a failed relationship, and she told me I was not socially swell.

I was at a breaking point in my life, so i wanted to better myself

I wanted to push myself, screw the old me, let’s put up a new shelf

So when the off season came I was ready,

I was going to make myself better, slow and steady.

 

So I started to work.

 

I worked day in and day out, outside, inside, at the gym.

People who didn't know i was there acted like ‘Who is him?”

So “Him” became their friend, because he wasn't afraid of people anymore

People found out that “Him” had a lot more in store.

So he became actively social, and physically stronger

The old depressed him, existed no longer.

 

So I won King.

 

Yes it’s true! I won homecoming king!

I waited and watched as people actually respected me.

The boy who was once depressed, a weak little being

Could now squat 315, and coach was seeing

Seeing that I was now capable of sports

I improved myself, and was now a Junior Varsity starter on the court.

 

So I believed.

 

I believed that life was great and my dreams had come true!

From never touching a ball to starting and sitting varsity, I never even had a clue

All it took was believing in myself, turns out I had so much to keep giving

I never wanted to go to depression I had a life worth living!

From the boy who never wanted life, who wanted to die

I have to answer you know; Who Am I?

 

So I am success.

 

I am the embodiment of every living dream

I am the lighting on my feet and the water in every stream

I am the one they call “Ike”, in me I have no failure

I am the keys to opening life, I am no longer the jailor

I am a King, a jock, a nerd, a geek, a giant, and a friend

I am the beginning, and it seems like I have no end.

 

So my name is Isaac “Ike” Campbell, and I will keep on living.