I’m 14 before I begin to breathe Suppose in a breath exists a life span conscious from the beginning flickering of first inhale flows through nostrils like pen and inkwell suppose half a life sucked up before lungs fully expand the air is frantically grasping as much as it can aching to linger where none dwell broken fingertips reaching for an extortionate veil, suppose breath contained the depth in thought of men and the time took to breathe dedicated to what to say how many, words to let go of before that notebook or windpipe closes up thoughts, like broken faucets, to stream before not so subtle decay. Relax, let your exhale begin to s l o w up, give life to a set of days, a poet with a blank page
Terrance Brown 9/26/13