Just breathe, they say
And it will be okay.
But I know better.
Breathing won’t make things okay.
Just because I’m breathing doesn’t mean
The problem is gone.
It’s still there.
And what about all those times,
I’m not allowed to breathe slow and steady,
Because someone is pushing or pulling
Or holding me down.
I can’t “just breathe” when I’m gulping for air to survive.
How about you work on you
And I work on me
How about you stop telling me how you would do things
And maybe offer to help instead..
How about you I tell you to “just breathe:
And you see how not okay it is
When someone chokes your throat
Or chases you down
Or treats you worse than they treat an animal.
Just breathe
And remember
I am a person too.
Inhaling, exhaling
Air
Just like you.
