Sunlight

[Poem by Eddie Maisonet] I woke up with guitar strings in my belly Telling my body’s story Vibrates through air expanding For the first time in 3 weeks I feel myself breathe Warmth filters into here on to my skin I dare to experience this moment as its own A new chance to coax stiffness From my ribcage Last night I fell asleep with this chill in my body It’s been my steadfast friend Flesh hardened from danger around me I was cold, rigid, breathless, stayed strong to support myself My loves, my goals, support myself through the news That every day fills me with the dread That I’ve become muscle-bound The act of keeping steady like this is living the motions of survival Self-preservation movement restricted Body has felt as free as I am But fuck it Today I woke up and realized I don’t just want to survive Cold, inflexible things break so easily I don’t wanna break I choose to I choose to I choose to breathe today Dare to experience this moment as its own Bravery to breathe after bracing for impact In a new day I can open myself to body’s intuitive knowledge I went to sleep with that chill in me I woke up with sunlit nylon strings resonating in my belly But the groove carried my healing through sun rays I wanna be my best self today