Bare

the vibration of breath 
trying to push through my gated nostril
awakens my mind
burning throat
scaly like the earth's surface 
unable to talk
the strings of thought
burst in--
a waterfall of fear,
to-do lists, and dread

just breathe, I remind
just breathe
but I can't do it fully
each nostril stuffed to its brim
firmly gated

a faint tune rings
it's time again
un-wanting
filled with a yearning for lazy mornings 
filled with needs of more sleep
I stroll towards the shower
groggy
a reflection of a woman stares back 
dark circles
graying at the temples
tiny blemishes sprouted across
her face

Searching for rest
I inhale the steam
and breathe for the first time
uninhibited
bare
each breath filling my body--
a balloon 
a life
a day
a moment--
The present is all.

Napowrimo 2015