It is a mystery to me
How you all breathe with such consistency
I cannot hold a breath
I gasp in symphonies
I grasp at air running out my lungs

Your hands
Necklaced around my throat
Are tight. So tight.
The blood rushing in my head cries out my eyes

And your hot breath
Stings my eyes
It bites at my words
As soon as they leap from my tongue

There is patience in every part of me
But no tolerance
Not for fools
Not for you, and the heat of your fire only burns it does not warm

I could dare you all the things
Stick a fork in an electrical outlet
Hold your breath under water
Drink this bleach, bottoms up

But you are only a fool
Not foolish
Like my vain, vain hopes
So fill your glass with all my tears
Breathe me in, with all my fears

And take all the air I have never used
Take it, take it, all away