Is Breathing Simple? (JG)

 Is breathing simple?  


In the next room 

my father in law tries to sleep.

He’s 97 years old and every breath 

is a lesson in struggle 

and longing and need.  


His heart beat is down 

to 40 beats a minute.  


Every couple of minutes 

he clears the crap from his throat 

and forces another breath down. 


Breathing for him 

is like walking for an infant.  

Impossible almost.  

But the infant doesn’t know it.  


And he does.

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