Breathe Out
On Grief, Breath, and Letting Go
A note before reading: This poem deals with grief and the death of a parent.
Breathe Out
Sit down.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Breathe in.
Are you breathing too?
Hand on chest,
earth goes silent.
The aching,
greying,
beating
heart
within my lungs
hushes
to hear yours
thump
thump
thump
Breathe out.
The earth
spins still
while you lay—
I sit still—
in a room once filled
with life and light.
Now life and light
dissipate
like morning mist.
What a grim grace
to witness
one’s first breath—
first cry—
and another’s last.
Breathe in.
Are you breathing too?
Are you breathing?
Are you?
Hand on chest.
Heart hushes.
thump
Yes.
Yes.
No.
No.
Please.
Don’t go.
Breathe out.
This is a reader-supported publication.
If you’d like to tangibly support my work, kindly consider subscribing or buying one of the coffees that fuels my writing.
Grateful for you.
Grace and peace,
Ali
Cover art: “The Death of Saint Anne” by Giulia Lama
Ali this is achingly beautiful. I’ve written much about grief in raw ways, but you’ve captured it in a genre far outside what I could ever compose. I could feel every word. Thank you.
I love the use of breath in this poem of grief. We are always taught breathing techniques when walking through mental health, but it doesn't take away the pain. Just helps move through the feelings, even in the times when we can't move on. Love your work! <3