Breath Of Life Poem by Sheena Blackhall

Breath of Life
Breath in. Breath out
You're recycling the breath
Of Nero, Picasso, Keats
The baker who set fire to Pepys's London

Savour this fact.
Some of this breath comes from
The country where no-one is born,
The Vatican.

From the prehistoric pines of California
From the Mexicans Feasting with the Dead
From an Arab princess
Wearing a million dollar dress by Schiaparelli

This breath may have used by
Francois Villon. By Rossetti
Over his young wife's grave

Breath should be tasted like a Unicorn wine
Ancient and rare. Like Cougar Juice
Oaked Chardonnay…like a fine malt
From Islay

You only get to use it for a second.
Think Genghis Khan, De Brus
The anorexic model on the cat walk

Breath in. Breath out.
Recycle the stuff of life