Typewriter Rodeo: Deep Breaths

Each week, the Standard reaches out to Austin’s Typewriter Rodeo for a custom poem on Texas topics.

By Kari Anne HoltJuly 10, 2020 9:43 am,

Our poet puts it best: “I can’t breathe” in all of its forms seems to be the theme of 2020. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.

Deep Breaths

I can’t breathe
the theme of 2020
from throats under boots
to overflowing ICUs
to masks on me
to masks on you
the theme we return to
over and over
day after day
is I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe

And the only solace
our solitary confines provide
is that at least I
can still see your eyes
and you
can still see mine
and even though
you’re over there
and I’m over here
we can bear witness together
we can live through this together
and we can unite together
so that all of us
everywhere
can begin
to breathe easy together

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