Here I use the napowrimo.net prompt: ‘a poem of gifts and joy. What would you give yourself, if you could have anything? What would you give someone else?’

1
Things I wish I could give myself:

A good night’s sleep
without interruption
or blankets kicked to the floor

A release of habits
that always demand more

The ability to stop worrying
about what happened before

A chance to breathe easy

Perfect eyesight
both far and near

The highest of high frequencies
I can no longer hear

The ability to travel
without anxiety or fear

A chance to breathe easy

Permission to speak
instead of watching from afar

to not avoid you
because I’m afraid of who you are

and to be myself
without restraint or demur

A chance to breathe easy

The touch of your hand
on my shoulder or my face

The relief of knowing
I’m meant to be in this place

and that this, what we have
won’t be erased

A chance to breathe easy

2
Things I want to give to you:

My true honest self
to show you I care

All of the feelings
I never used to share

A solemn promise
I won’t go anywhere

A chance to breathe easy

A safe place
to be who you need to be

without having to pretend
or change yourself for me

That first-thing-in-the-morning
coffee, juice, or tea

A chance to breathe easy

Smiles and laughter
every day and every night

Candles in every room
for when storms knock out the lights

A warm bed to slip into
where everything’s all right

A chance to breathe easy

3
Never underestimate the power
of a sigh of relief

(7 April 2019)