Sleep Apnea

we listen to her breathing on a little speaker
taking turns – “it’s your turn”
barely listening
you barely have to
she is barely breathing at all.
we hear the vent breathing on a little speaker too
and sometimes get confused
not remembering which vibration is hers
and which is the air conditioning
until she gasps.
picking up her rhythm again
we remember
she had stopped for a while
considered if she’d rather not keep stopping
until she could sing like the birds again
remember how to whistle
how to spit fruit seeds
how to kiss.
her pulse slips under the radar
under the buzzing breathing of the vent.
it is still enough to hear the birds
until she gasps again.

April 16, 2006