Last Gasp

Life A User’s Manual A Breathing Exercise or Last Gasp

Inhaling in, out loud I shout,

“So: let’s begin.” I exhale out.
Inhaling in, I, whale-like, spout,
“Whoa! Where’ve I been?” I exhale out.

Inhaling in, through nose, through mout,’

I tuck my chin. I exhale out.
Inhaling in, I’m on about
Eve’s Adam’s sin. I exhale out.

Inhaling in, I pour a stout

then sip a gin. I exhale out.
Inhaling in, while suff’ring gout,
I bark my shin. I exhale out.

Inhaling in, I exit sout,’

a new begin-... I exhale out.
Inhaling in, what’s true I flout,
what’s false I spin. I exhale out.

Inhaling in, I read Rex Stout,

Anais Nin… I exhale out.
Inhaling in, I walkabout
the plains of Sin. I exhale out.

Inhaling in, I think about

poor Anne Boleyn. She exhal’d out.
Inhaling in, I’m Kilgore Trout.
But Rin Tin Tin's who exhales out.

Inhaling in, I ask for nowt.

Why can't I win? I exhale out.
Inhaling in: a one-round bout.
Fun though it’s been, I exhale out.