Mindfulness

I watch my breath like a curious child,
You come by unannounced;
You frolic and play and make yourself home,
I forget myself and play with you.

I watch my breath with mindful eye,
As you so subtly drop by;
Reminding me of deadlines, making me afraid,
And I start planning all over again.

I watch my breath with intense focus,
You show me landscapes and vivid colors;
I lose myself in the beauty and charm,
Longing for a life far far away.

I watch my breath with bated breath,
You come at me with cynicism;
With nostalgic longings and forgotten dreams,
And a whole bunch of memories.

I watch my breath with detachment,
You remind me of mortality;
I fall into the bottomless abyss,
Calling out mayday.

Every day I watch my breath,
And every day I see
The waters of my subconscious
Rising, falling, twisting, turning,
Lashing at me unrelentingly,
Soothing me with droplets on my face,
Taking me to far away lands,
And drowning me in whirlpools.
And I wait for those blissful moments
When they finally calm down, become still,
And I finally find
Me.

Cover art by Sean Stratton