I live on shallow breaths
a sigh here and a gulp there
hurried but silent
the people on TV often
teach the art of breathing
i n h a l e 1 2 3 4
e x h a l e 1 2 3 4
savor every breath – they say
but how do you slow down
when escaping a sky that keeps
crashing around you
when the metallic murmur
follows your footsteps
while you hide beneath the
crumbles of your home
maybe deep-breathing
is only for the living

Beautiful and profound, Raj! Deep breathing helps us recalibrate our mind and heart set, so I’m with the mantra of slowing down and breathing!
Profound! I had chills while reading your poem. Wow.
Wow!! This poem perfectly captures the chaos and pressure we all face every now and then. And we all need this reminder that it’s okay to slow down and just breathe. Thanks for the nudge, Raj.