Breathing Poetry

Written by Christopher Hileman
He lives in Gladstone, Oregon, USA
His blog: View From The Northern Wall

Cleansing

"This poem was inspired by a photo of several naked
reed stalks in a pond covered with a kind of brownish
algae fully hiding the water's surface. It was a closeup
so no surroundings were visible. The reeds were
several and some crossed at angles. No ends were
visible. I chose one and wrote about that."

So I asked the photographer:

May I take one reed?
Here is my heart's last promise.
Hold it in token.

I am due this next cleansing.
I shall lay beneath the wave.

When I become breath
I shall use the reed's passage.
Like mist I shall rise.

Originally published on writer's personal blog.
Posted with consent of the writer.