BREATHE, HARD, BODY

BY LE'VAR HOWARD

Heavy is my breathing,
Deep long breaths,
To remind me I’m still real.
The sun shines so hard up against my face,
It’s as if the heat is sinking right into my skin…

Breathe,

Hard,

Body. 

But I only recognize just how soft my skin is at this time,
My favorite and (at times) least favorite
Moment of the day.
Waking, washing my face,
Baby oil and aloe coco,
I take my time massaging my body. 
First arms, legs, chest, neck, ankles, feet,
Gently.
I prepare for my day slowly,
Staring into a mirror. 

To see me.

Ready,
breathe, breathe, dress,
comb and groom my beard, oils, softly
Brush in circles,
The fine whites of your pearls, fresh…
winter’s breeze in my mouth,
Secret…
So genuine to delight a masculine muscle.
Smile, laugh, notice yourself,

Be present.

Breathe, breathe,
We are still alive.  | LH

LE’VAR HOWARD IS A PORTLAND, OREGON NATIVE. MOST OF HIS FAMILY COMES FROM GULF PORT, MISSISSIPPI, ATLANTA, TEXAS, AND OKLAHOMA. LE’VAR IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE GROUND BENEATH US WRITING GROUP. HE TRACES INFLUENCES ON HIS WRITING TO HIS AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE.