inhale, exhale
i’m just choking on air
each breath reminds me
i’m living—but not really
just breathing enough to exist

Today, I was sick.
The doctor said there was nothing wrong,
yet returning to the pavilion lake,
rains accompany my wakes.
A swelling sensation stuffed my chest,
I can't help but lay down and closed my eyes.

Showing care to the land that we grow crops and food,
Showing care and love to the waters we drink and swim,
Showing care and respect to the air we are breathing,

Why it is so hard?

A breath.

Each breath takes up part of a day.
Every breath restarts the clock of life.

Expansion.

The expansion of the lungs can be meaningful.

A sigh.
A squeal.
A gasp.

A breath.

going
childlike
and childish
who cares? as
long as
the golden
sun
still rolls on the ground
chasing
how? steps enter my voice
and heart murmur
follows
in quiet
breathing
childlike
wonder

Before the sweat is the thought
Limbs crying in the hot aching sun
My skin’s pleading with me
Droplets form in my hairline
Trickling
Intermingling with the stubby brow hair
Some of them hitting my legs,
Not letting them disrupt their rhythmic motion
Left right left right faster faster right left right fast-
My lungs feel deepened. The air
Feels like I can finally breathe.
The world around me spins
And my legs ache but I can finally breathe so I’ll keep running right?

Before the cough is the thought
Should I even inhale this air
How will it deepen the breath I take, and what if I
Get addicted? The sunburst that happens at the edge of my fingertips,
The proper pressed pale paper laughing back at me
Taking away future breaths but easing the current ones
My lungs feel depened. The air
Feels like I can finally breathe.
The world around me relaxes
And my lungs are filled with smoke but I can finally breathe so I’ll keep smoking right?