My Breath

My Breath

1...2...3...exhale.

There is nothing further
for me to do in order
to become more beloved
to myself,
or to the God I know
who now waits patiently
for me to exhale
my warm consciousness
in breath after breath,
thus allowing it to join
with the breath of others
in this heavy atmosphere
we call life.

I let go of my breath
a little more easily
with the calm reassurance
there is nothing else,
not one thing more,
I can possibly do apart
from surrendering my soul
to take its place
in this one great
and collective life.

---

And when I breathed,
my breath was lightning.
~ Black Elk