Breathe by Lynn Ungar

 
Breathe, said the wind  

How can I breathe at a time like this,  
when the air is full of the smoke  
of burning tires, burning lives?  

Just breathe, the wind insisted. 

Easy for you to say, if the weight of 
injustice is not wrapped around your throat, 
cutting off all air.  

I need you to breathe.
  

I need you to breathe.  

Don’t tell me to be calm 
when there are so many reasons 
to be angry, so much cause for despair!  

I didn’t say to be calm, said the wind, 
I said to breathe.  

We’re going to need a lot of air 
to make this hurricane together.

~ www.lynnungar.com
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Madrigal for Runaway Slaves (for Miguel Barnet) by Nancy Morejón