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Renee Hoagland

Keep Breathing

Somewhere in this distant memory
I know you're standing close to me
Somewhere in this swirling haze
And though I can't quite see you
I look around and find it's true
That here is where I'd spend all my days
Just standing here, with you and I
Watching this world pass us by
I'd stay here as long as I'm alive
And if I could find you, I know
I wouldn't give you up or let you go
Because without you here, I can't survive.
The trick is to keep breathing even if life hasn't begun
Even if one sits and pretends it has
The belief is to keep knowing even if silence is real
Even if remaining loud is the only escape from pain
Looking and seeing is the only release
The only reality
The only breath of air
So can't you see it when you glance at me
In that instant where everything is blind
Everything you think you know is nothing
All is rooted in deep emotion
Born of memories and remnants of the past
Is this fear that I hold my breath back for?
The trick is to keep breathing
But how can when someone else steals the air?