Learned It Late

Funny how the noise leaves

And the thoughts dont

Thats when you hear yourself

I learned it late I admit it

Thought pain was tuition

Thought if I suffered enough

Id earn a position

I wore stress like a necklace

Called trauma my name

If it hurt I trusted it

If it healed I was ashamed

Every win felt rented

Every loss felt owned

I was loud in the crowd

But alone when alone

You dont get credit for bleeding

If you never stop

You dont lose power

Just cause you put the armor down

You werent late to the truth

You just arrived when you could

I learned it late

But you learned it right

I chased the dark

You found the light

I learned it late

I thought being numb was strength

Thought calm meant weak

Thought love was a trap

That shit couldnt reach me

I stayed moving so fast

I never stood still

Didnt know peace was a muscle

You build not steal

Watching you exist without proof

Without shame

Made me realize power

Aint synonymous with pain

You dont have to punish yourself

To be real

You dont owe the past

Another meal

You can keep your edge

And still heal

That dont make you soft

That makes you here

So what if I wasted time

You didnt waste it

You survived it

And if I dont recognize myself

Then meet him again

I learned it late

I learned it late, just work, just do it

Still learned

Still breathing

Still worthy

I learned it late