lungs

by alexandra mcmanus

I breathe in and out, and my lungs

aren’t full the way they used to be

each used to overflow with grandeur

with a blue sky and an ocean of green

parting my lips would part the seas

until rainbows and sea shanties came

pouring out, and you loved each song

yes, today I take a deep breath in and out

and I know you would miss my tide

but you could not have imagined

that I would ever make it to shore

my lungs aren’t full the way they used to be

and I am beginning to realize

that lungs are not something to fill