Lungs

Once, I could hold my breath for two minutes

time enough

to be born and to die

to fall in love

to fall apart

to gag on curdled hate

 

to sing one short song

or half a long one

to break every mirror

to be quiet and to listen

to really listen

to forgive them all

to forgive myself

 

these days of falling flesh and rising moons

of second, second guesses

I can hold my breath for one minute and thirteen seconds

time enough

to do it all again twice over