The Disappearance of Breath

It isn’t the wear and tear of getting older 

even though it began over years and not 

days when I was still hiking mountains. 

Along with the occasional fire and stiffness 

in my knees and hips and neck I noticed that 

I could no longer breathe deep during meditation 

so I abandoned meditation out of frustration 

gradually, and thought no more of it until that 

sunny Thursday I ascended Cardigan. 

My friend ran when the summit was in sight 

and I followed until I felt the tightness, 

my lungs pushing against immoveable ribs. 

I could not move I could not scream I  

could not make a sound I could only 

slap my chest universal sign for lack of air. 

Originally published by My Disabled World at: https://disabilitytalk.co.uk/2020/10/23/my-disabled-world-eight-more-of-your-poems/