- The Cost of Breath
Talk about the woodstacked high in the living roomwhat it coststo breathe in my home—raw wood, oakso long and thick—a dead elephant stretched wall to wall
He said to acclimate takes timeand more money—heartwoodslow to open, to breathe—one week became a month became a year
I couldn't breatheA pile of planksunusable, forlornit had to go.
I want to speak my mindinstead of smile.Nice girls don't speaktheir minds orquestion men—
How dear it isto breathe. [End Page 249]