Our Ways of Breathing
if i'm honest
If I'm honest,
most days there's a
lump of clay
on my chest,
and the only way
to breathe
is through eating it.
Not all at once, of course.
It's steady, humble work.
So I brandish
my favorite spoon
and carve,
bite by bite until I'm full
then chew some more
so that my organs
feel like they'll explode.
I used to think the clay
served a greater purpose
like some sort of challenge
to make me a stronger woman.
But I feel it every morning.
No matter how
much I’ve already eaten,
another lump sprouts
over my ribcage,
melting into my skin
so that neither can be
dissected apart.
If I’m honest,
there are almost certainly
seeds of clay
buried deeply
beneath the surface,
soaking in the marrow
of my bones
so that even if,
miraculously,
I shed these
stubborn adornments,
I will never be free
from its control.
I’ve learned to consult
the clay along every journey.
Can we breathe
enough to speak?
Will we be too heavy
by the end of the evening?
How many spoonfuls
are required
for just an hour
of peace?
If I’m honest,
I’ve grown exhausted
from the feasting,
but I know that without it,
the clay will consume me
completely.
So I have become loyal
to this endless cycle
of steady, foolish work.
Yet, in my dreams,
I have mastered pottery
and molded every
granule of clay
into spoons that I gave
others so they could eat
and discover their own way
of breathing.
About the Creator
Sam Eliza Green
Wayward soul, who finds belonging in the eerie and bittersweet. Poetry, short stories, and epics. Stay a while if you're struggling to feel understood. There's a place for you here.
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Comments (17)
Loved the ways this drifted into different interpretations for me as I read. :) looking forward to reading more from you!
I loved this poem because I felt as though my own chest was tight, and it was only at the end that I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders, reminding me to breathe.
Good poem.
very nice 😀
Fantastic work, well worth a top-story honor!
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Such beautiful and powerful imagery. Well done and congrats on a well deserved top story.
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This is amazing! Im sure I eat clay daily. Thank you for sharing it!
, the way we breathe can be influenced by various factors such as our emotions, physical activity level, and medical conditions. In a calm state, our breathing is usually slow and regular. When we're stressed or anxious, our breathing can become shallow and rapid. During physical activity, our breathing rate increases to provide more oxygen to the body. Some medical conditions such as asthma or sleep apnea can also affect our breathing patterns. It's important to pay attention to our breathing and to seek medical attention if we experience any difficulties breathing.
This truly was surreal. Great job here! Congrats! 👏🏻
Woahhhh so beautifully written. Love your work
Wow. Just beautiful.
I felt this one. So beautifully expressed. Congratulations on Top Story!
2nd poem I've read of yours. Time to subscribe I think. Well done, Sam.
Thank you for this. I read it more than once and will probably read it again. Sounds like the pain or gain of a parent in the sense of providing direction. Knowing your worth is so important. I appreciate this. I hope you have an awesome day.
Love your work. Extremely thoughtful and in-depth writing. Truly impressive :)