35 Breath

I started by taking one breath

at a time. One day at a

Time mantra too much to swallow.

how to get from

one moment to the next, let

alone each day, with

the mountain ahead,

(around me, crushing)

I could breathe though finally, even

when my chest

constricted in the familiar vise of taut muscle and

I hyperventilated

Frustration.

Something delicious down in my belly, down to

my seat, opened up. And at least

I could breathe.