avatarMichael Ritoch

Summary

The poem "Breathe In" by Michael Ritoch reflects on the struggle of coping with loss and the mundane aspects of life that continue despite personal grief.

Abstract

"Breathe In" is a poignant piece that captures the narrator's internal struggle with the absence of his wife, a loss that permeates every aspect of his daily routine. The poem opens with the simple act of breathing, juxtaposing the ordinary sounds of life against the narrator's profound sense of emptiness. Despite the passage of time, the narrator's heartache persists, as he is reminded of his wife through the remnants of her presence in their shared environment. The poem progresses through the narrator's day, highlighting the relentless continuity of life and the sharp contrast between his inner turmoil and the external world. The author, Michael Ritoch, is presented as a poet/writer who finds inspiration in life's complexities, including leadership, pain, life, suffering, and the human condition.

Opinions

  • The author conveys a sense of wrongness in the act of breathing, suggesting that the simple, life-sustaining action is burdened by the weight of his loss.
  • The poem expresses a profound sense of loneliness and the difficulty of moving forward in the wake of a loved one's death.
  • Routine activities like hearing a baby cry or smelling breakfast cook are overshadowed by the narrator's grief, indicating that everyday life has lost its vibrancy for him.
  • The poem reflects on the concept of time, with the narrator counting seconds and waiting for the day to fade, illustrating a desire for the passage of time to ease his pain.
  • The mention of the narrator's wife's "morning breath" and her side of the bed underscores the intimacy of their past life together and the stark reality of her absence.
  • The author hints at acceptance and the inevitability of death, with the repeated encouragement to "just breathe" and the closing line, "It'll be over soon," suggesting a resign

Breathe In

When our breath is no longer enough.

Photo by Noah Silliman on Unsplash

Breathe in the roar of cars. Breathe in the empty room. Breathe in the cat.

Just breathe. It’s hard and wrong.

My heart beats short and quick. I take my morning pee

and it’s still hard to breathe.

Breathe in the bacon cooked four doors down. Breathe in the baby screaming next door. Breathe in last night’s dreams.

Just breathe. It’s another day.

I count the seconds, waiting for each to become minutes, hours,

and then tomorrow again.

Breathe. The day will fade.

My heart. Empty. Echoing. I look over at the bed.

She’s gone.

Breathe in my wife’s morning breath. Breathe her side of the bed.

I can’t.

Nothing’s left but my life.

She’s been gone longer than I have been present longer than my needing her.

I will not find her again.

Breathe in.

It’ll be over soon.

_________________________ Michael Ritoch plays at being a poet/writer. He finds joy in his wife, two daughters, cats, one is really fat and the other is neurotic, reading philosophy written by old dead guys, and his friends. He writes about leadership, pain, life, suffering, and whatever comes to mind.

If you enjoyed this poem maybe you’ll like these three as well. Thank you.

Poem
Poetry
Loss
Marriage
Life
Recommended from ReadMedium