I was sure I’d want to write

about it, the cells, the scalpel

the zapping absences

the statistical rarity, that is

til my brain reached out 

& touched air

& I wonder

is hospital air more or less 

purified than the redlined air

in the bando up in flames 

it was a place

to live, breathe hopefully 

towards a future coal dust free

was hospital air itemized

on the invoice? 

what was the cost

of this birthright

I don’t want 

but I remember       I was there

I’d love to show you

what’s left of the stash 

of silver doodles I dropped 

zigzag through the city

the only way I breathe, 

walk        to look for birds

Note: “I remember, I was there” is from “mood indigo” by Ntozake Shange.

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