Many Breaths

I have taken many breaths,
some deeper than others.
I have closed my eyes
many times to feel alive.
Eyes closed, chest out,
I inhale and exhale pain
that fills the stale air.
Sometimes, I wish I didn’t
care or think so much.
Sometimes, I notice that
my breath takes me away
to a place deep inside.
In my life, I have taken
many breaths and I hope
to take many more.
The air cures my pain.
Now, I count my breaths
because I do not know
how many breaths remain.