To Finally Breathe

This cadence of a last breath
This moment to determine
From where one’s final rhythm emanates
Mirrors childhood
Adolescence
Even that much dreaded final curtain of maturity

Will parade its swell and gasp
A Rite of Spring paradox
Ingested forever
Becoming the intravenous surge of finality

Will it have a peccary’s duplicity
Able to flow with a flowery resonance
Or the prickly shrill of cacti
Knowing life is but a rabbit in the hat?

Will the baby breath of suckling contentment
Make silent intrusive memories of first-love betrayal
Or
Might the crackling rock of roll
Make tamboured expansion of racing energy
Produce a heave
A final extolling of breath well spent

Oh how tenuous the choosing
This last moment
This ultimate attempt

To finally breathe