Breathe

Arch, twist, gasp, moan

Pray, breathe, push, groan

Swollen belly, pulsing night

When first you breathed, I saw light.

Tears, salt, gentle moon

Blood, skin, quiet room

Breathless touch, dripping milk

When first you breathed, your mouth was silk.

Raw heart and aching bone

Trembling lips, grief like stone

Your sister gone, my world so dark

When first you breathed, you lit a spark.

Days and hours strung like glass

Staring silent, make time pass

Stay alive–that’s all I need

Because you breathe, I’ll plant a seed.

Water, air, sun so bright

Arms now full, circling light

Dimpling smile, eyes of blue

Because you breathe, I’ll fight anew.

Doctors’ voices, calls, and frowns

Glasses, guesses, spiraling down

Blind and broken, kidneys weak

And yet you breathe, so I will seek

Answers, knowledge, brimming books

Deeper, farther, I will look

If you have none, I’ll use my sight

As long as you breathe, I will fight.

Tiny fingers, clasped so dear

Sway and bounce, break the fear

First stumbling steps, giggling voice

While you breathe, I have a choice.

Read, play, crawl, sing

Hearts so full, taking wing

Rise and fall, your breath my clock

While you breathe, I’ll be your rock.

Wobble, tumble, trip, fall

Stand again, you give your all

Open arms, smiling wide

As you breathe, I burn with pride.

In the dark, small hours of this night

You’ll turn two, before first light.

Your sister died at the age of two

But as long as you breathe, I still have you.

Your hand in mine, show me the way

Breathing in time, teach me to pray

I do not know who I am or who I’ll be

But as long as you breathe, you’ll have all of me.

As long as I breathe, you have all of me.

– inspired by All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon