And then the voids were filled with sifted silence,
fissures creeping in through each tiny crack of the vocal chords
each broken beat of a heart that sometimes refuses to
believe this reality
stumbling its way down artery lane
scuffing its toes, and choking out words
like
hold your breath, woman, hold it tight.
In this held breath are the lives of your dearest,
They cannot yet go if you hang onto this oxygen,
and my lungs hate me, straining.