Arnoldo Garcia: "A Meditation on Breath"

[Note: The last two lines of this poem were edited on June 14, 2013, at the request of the poet, who had pointed out a textual error in a comment. We apologize to Mr. Garcia and thank him for the correction.]

 
I breathe in rain
I breathe out green
I breathe in wind
I breathe out sky
I breathe in laughter
I breathe out happiness
i breathe in her
I breathe out poetry
I breathe in daughters and sons
I breathe out hope
I breathe in words
I breathe out mountains
I breathe in sage
I breathe out clarity
I breathe in dust
I breathe out the bones of my people
I breathe in oppression
I breathe out liberation
I breathe in fire
I breathe out clouds
I breathe in ink
I breathe out veins
I breathe in Buddha
I breathe out Mexican

"A Meditation on Breath" by Arnoldo Garcia, from Life Prayers from Around the World, edited by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon. © HarperSanFrancisco, 1996.

Image credit: Unknown (originally color).