Stepping Into The Tundra Poem by Beverley Katherine

my chest is swollen
like my lungs are almost bursting
like I'm only alive because my shoelaces are untied
and they beat on the ground
while the snowflakes whisper a rebuttal against my steps.

is this the end?
the dust motes swirl around me noiselessly creating diamond patterns
in the smooth silver light.

my chest unswells
like a spoiled child who hurriedly tries to grasp the balloon which deflates
and simply
floats
away.