In this world full of noise, I want to breath

deep breathes like yogis holding crow,

like opera singers in high octave,

like runners in quiet strength. I want

columns of air from belly to lungs to vocal chords,

to lift my voice past its cracks, let sunlight in,

to soothe my nerves, slow this racing heart

thumping as if afraid to stop. I want to breath

boldly, like it is my birthright (because it is),

not worried who will hear, not ashamed of

how much oxygen my body needs. I want to breath

the way I took my first breathe, a natural reflex,

before my breathes became shallow and faint,

crude and clumsy like a question mark after

every sentence. I want to say exactly what I think

loudly, laugh before the punchline, sing a song

I barely know, scream a football chant.

I want to learn how to breath again.

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This is a revised version of my prior poem “Breathing” from 2023. It ended up becoming an entirely different poem, but still about the same topic – breathing. Enjoy!