What Belongs in my Lungs

A little poem about losing things and becoming free

Once when I was little we went to a museum

The day was sunny and the adventure delightful-

I had brought along my favourite toy, Bunny.

That day a swarm of fun overtook my body

I let go of Bunny, forgot him,

Even though, I loved my Bunny.

That was when I first started losing things.

As I grew up, all of my most special

Important and vital things went missing:

Id, keys, pens, phones but also words,

That I was supposed to keep to myself.

Some things slipped out of my mouth

Like Bunny out of my hands.

I lost things like I breathed, I sucked it all in

But eventually exhaled, emptying my lungs.

Sometimes, in small spaces, it could be retrieved-

Mostly it was left bewildered in the immensity,

Along with all of my other forgotten things

Now I am older

I have learnt to keep my mouth shut

When I breathe in and out.

My hands are tightly closed and

My heart is impenetrable.

A lost thing has no owner and no home

It doesn’t matter anymore.

Now my lungs are empty, freed

From the weight of my possessions-

Now I can breathe.

Author's Note

I'm just a very distraught young person

Reviews

[SleeplessVolcano]

Oh I know the feeling of losing things too :)
You've described this so well. You did, I think, hint at cherishing those things in our hearts and minds because nothing (no loss) can separate us from the love and concern we store in our hearts.

Great writing :)

[An owl on the moon]

This is so tender, so poignant, beautifully voiced in the most bittersweet song. Within the passing of time, from young child to youth, you teach so much about what is loved and what is lost.

[isabella]

Thank you very much, this poem means a lot to me, it speaks about who I am as a person today and my fear of commitment, I'm really glad you enjoyed it!