Breathing

breathing is a cadence offered

as a low profile chant

a procession of expansions

and contractions

along the drum skin of the lungs

with occasional upswings

afforded by laughter and sighs

a kind of closeness occurs

between heartbeats and breaths

a blend of intimacies woven

without spoken agreements made

a drumming ceremony

without audience

taken up quite naturally

like a bird wing to sky

liken to an albatross

to fly most of its life sky-bound

or a tuna to swim unceasingly

or a beaver’s fatal necessity

if not to chew to live

we breathe

not knowing destiny’s approval

but absentmindedly chorus in faith

looking for

a long lasting syncopation savior

we would lung-drum ourselves up

never knowing . . .

that breathing is mind

and breath is heart

mindful breathing leads to soul . . .