I keep breathing
deep, ragged breaths
trying to channel oxygen
to the knots that bind me
shoulder and neck
body and soul
but the air
must not be
the right kind of
healing air that my cells need
The toxins are external as much as
they are internal, and together
they have declared war
against my shoulder
Their battle is
permeating my heart
with tension and I dare not speak
for fear that anger will escape
so I breathe and again
I breathe, trying
to send up
little white flags
of surrender
to signal
peace
… peace …
peace of body
peace of soul and mind
God help me
peace
