The Ultimate Breath

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

Seniorism will parade its swell and gasp,
A Rite of Spring paradox,
Ingested forever,
Becoming the intravenous surge of finality.

Will it have the growing common duplicity,
Able to flow with a flowery resonance,
Or the prickly shrill of cacti,
Knowing life’s survival is akin
to but the proverbial rabbit in the hat?

Will the innate memory of 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 inhalation well spent.

Oh, how tenuous the choosing,
This last moment,
Finality’s desperate attempt,
One’s ultimate breath.