appointment.

1.

lie down,

                he told her

            to

    take

deep breaths

as he listened

          to her

infant heart

ingrown

inside, underneath

the straps that defined her

as a woman 

who has not yet lived

not quite complete

    not quite ready

not quite.

she said

my chest hurts

   when i breathe

(why)

she said

my head bangs

  when i sleep

(why)

she said

so often i bleed

  (why do i

    have to breathe?)

2.

lie down,

he told her

breathe for me,

        he said

      as his hands slipped

                      to open her door

      her infant heart 

startled

        skipped a beat

and ran

out of the room

that ran out of room.

3.

breathe for me

and i'll breathe for you

making air

where there is no atmosphere.