Inhale

INHALE

An inhale is sacred,
an unpeopled quiet,
a mandatory shutdown
of the voice box.
It's a pure prayer,
a holy breath, a
safe wall erected for
the weight of the future
which has nothing
to lean against.
The inhale warms
my cold hands
which are too heavy
with the fear of fear,
too tired with the burden
of earth's dirt and
cracked mirrors.
It instinctively knows
the path to my heart,
following its curves
like a sigh, like
a loving smile
that heals.

©Sherri Brannon 2014

The untrained mind is like a wild horse. It runs away when we try to find it, shies when we try to approach it. If we find a way to ride it, it takes off with the bit in its teeth and finally throws us right into the mud. ~Susan Pivers

Can you tell that I'm in awe of meditation and its possibilities? I simply sit, and I breathe, which sounds so simple. But, oh, how hard it is! Trying to quiet my mind, noisy with thoughts and distraction, is a challenge.

I was surprised to learn we can only speak out loud on the exhale. Maybe the exhale is a state-of-the-heart purge system, a spilling out of our seized-up thoughts to make room for space, and pauses, and peace...all of which come to us on the inhale.

I've barely begun to figure out meditation, but I must say that after sitting quietly for 20 minutes in silence, the difference is noticeable. My body feels so relaxed, and my mind feels calmer despite the busy-ness of my brain. I will keep trying to get better at it, because I think I'm onto something.

My image was taken through the car window while at a stop light...I love that my camera apps allow me to take a very mediocre photo and make it interesting by adding texture and/or layers. I'm sharing my poem at Poets United today - please visit to read more or participate!