Christine K Munsell Poet Free verse

Breathing Lessons

I breathe so fiercely, so steadily,  – 
I breathe as a rock ~ Full of life now, like a 140 pound lizard – 
	With green eyes, 
	With muscles full of blood
	With a heart - perfect blood pressure
	And smiling – if required. 

I breathe steady while I blink consciously, 
	Chocolate on my breath
	In my underwear 
	Fresh lipstick on.
		Come here, let’s breathe together. 

This doesn’t mean I love you or that you love me. 
	I don’t believe in that. 
	I only believe in breathing - like counting -
		Try this – 
Count your breaths up to thirty the next time you go into another room to get your phone. 
		Did you make it?  How did it feel? 
		Did you breathe in the numbers? 

Here is the story: Once, many years ago, there was a moment I couldn’t breathe
		I sat on the floor of a man’s bedroom as he told me some things
		I couldn’t breathe – because lies were there.
		And I am incapable of breathing in lies.  

I don’t believe in love any more - the kind of love that I once did – 
		It took many times 
Of sitting on many floors, being told many things,
		However, I am no fool, so now I do know how to breathe.

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Ink Empress November 29, 2024 at 3:58 AM Dear christine, youv expressed in such a soul hitting manner! Felt the depth of what youv conveyed here in an effortless flow, especially the ending hits deep! Thank you for sharing this and congratulations on your placement Christine K Munsell December 2, 2024 at 12:14 PM Ink Empress, Thank you for the contest, but more than that, thank you for your kind words. :) I feel quite nice having placed in this poetry contest.