But I Breathe — a poem about calming panic with mindfulness

Triggers flashing
like emergency lights—
frightening fireworks,
lightning overworked—
everything burnt on sight.

But I breathe.
Inhale slowly and evenly—
exhale slowly and evenly.

I breathe,
I breathe,
I breathe.

I'm not there.
I'm right here.

No shots were fired today.
No threats were made today.
No health scares today.
Nobody to save.

I breathe,
I breathe,
I breathe.

I take in the current scenery.
I acknowledge who is here with me.
I drop the past
and let it be.
I free the future,
whether banshees or glee.

It's too late to change the time—
too etched in stone to rewrite lines.
And in this moment, that's just fine.
I've seen much worse and kept my spine.

The mines lie in wait to slay,
but they are illusions
and even delusions.
I'll accept what comes today.
I'll breathe, I'll breathe some more,
and come hell or high water—
or heaven and a sunny day—
I'll stay.

Photo credit: Lisa Mendez