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BreathA grey circle of light dawns On the Young One. Breathe in You watch as the tiny one Swims, kicks, sucks her thumb, And even seems to giggle. Breathe out Suddenly, inexplicably, A bright flash of light Shatters her world. Breathe in When your vision clears, You see the Young one Struggling to breathe. Breathe out At once, the back arches, Muscles tense, straining Painfully, the lungs fill. Breathe in Slowly, she relaxes Releasing the tension In the tiny body. Breathe Out |
Again she struggles, Filling her lungs by sheer will. Breathe In On continues this cycle Of self-torture. Struggling: For each breath, to survive. Breathe out You find yourself wondering, Why does she struggle so, Fighting for each painful breath? Breathe In She doesn't know what lies ahead, The pain and sorrow of life, Nor poverty and indignity. Breathe Out But, as you watch her struggling, It seems she doesn't care, She just wants so badly to live. Breathe In You long to reach out, To hold her, comfort her, But you cannot. Breathe Out The closer death comes, The harder she fights For each breath. Breathe In Until-finally-her back arches And, almost reluctantly, Releases. Breathe Out.
---Andrea J. Graham
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