sometimes the world collapses

and drowns you

you inhale

and exhale

but you drown

sometimes the world collapses

into your lungs

you find ringing in your ears

you find drumming in your heart

you find needles in your arms

you find stars in your eyes

it is pitch-black dark

in a sunlit room

it is deserted-island lonely

in an ocean of people

it is pin-drop silent

in a sea of murmuring

where is the oxygen?

where is the feeling

of comfort?

where is the feeling

of solace?

why is it feeling

so crushing?

why is it feeling

so confusing?

sometimes the world collapses

when you least expect it

and your common sense

your sense of calm

is entirely lost

but you inhale

and you exhale

and you stay alive

however long it takes

you stay alive

10 minutes of inhaling

2 hours of exhaling

4 days, you respirate

and the world seeps

out of your lungs

out of your feelings

out of your life

and all of a sudden

you

can

breathe.