We felt two hundred million lungs exhale
as oaths were said and vows were made to all.
For four long years we’d seen our customs fail
and hyperventilated, taking small
breaths in and out and in, with gasping grief,
unable to attain the calm we lost,
dumfounded by compatriots. Relief
emerges just in time, at massive cost.

The gurus long have known that breath control
will open up the soul to benefit.
And doctors understand adrenal storm
is caused by too much CO2. A whole
complete exhale arrests the panting fit
of panic. We can hope now, and reform.