Take in oxygen
Take in the gorge’s green veil
the sky’s cerulean dome
the silvery white sliver of river
Accept what is offered:
inspiration
What you need for breathing:
lungs intercostal muscles a diaphragm
comfortable pants
What breathes:
noses mouths skin
leaves
living things
Reasons why we breathe:
so we don’t die to embrace
the world to take in oxygen to
calm down to walk to run to fly
we don’t need a reason
our body will do it anyway
How to breathe in:
use your lungs
breathe deeply
through your nose
and mouth
with your diaphragm
as your abdomen extends
so does your
invitation to the world
to enter and fill you
with wonder and
gratitude
Release carbon dioxide
Release worries
expel doubt
Reject what doesn’t provide energy:
expiration
What you don’t need:
someone telling you to
calm down and breathe
What doesn’t breathe:
that annoying race t-shirt
my mom
not since September 30, 200
Reasons why I can’t breathe:
too much humidity running too fast
a stuffed-up nose from inhaling
lake water
finding out my mom was dying from
stage 4 pancreatic cancer
How to breathe out:
Relax
your shoulders
let your body
do the work
of forcing the carbon dioxide out
let go
of your resistance to
grieving what you are losing
prepare for
another
breath