My body is convinced that some pollen native to Missouri is actually a treacherous threat and
Thus, it would be better for me to not be able to breathe
At all
I am sitting in front of the air filter silently counting “in –1 2 3 4 pause – out 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8”
having been unable to take a proper breath for several hours now.
My beau perceives the crisis
Stands behind me, hands on my shoulders,
Working tender confidence into my back
He spends 30 minutes
Trying to teach my lungs
The air is safe
Reminding me
My shoulders
don’t need to carry it all
Kris Gebhard, PhD 