Respiration
By Christopher Citro

There are never enough
Post-It Notes to tell you
everything I cannot remember.

I have a memory
like a sieve and smoke
comes from every hole
I do not hold with my hands.

Tell me what you feel
the need to say, don’t hold
your breath for fear
you might not get it back again.

My hands are not that fast.

— Christopher Citro is a poet living in Lawrence. Poet’s Showcase features work by area poets. Submit your poetry via e-mail with a subject line of Poet’s Showcase to mpaget@ljworld.com or send typewritten (not handwritten) submissions to Mindie Paget, 645 N.H., Lawrence 66044, attn: Poet’s Showcase. Teen writers should submit their work to the 18 & Under page at teens@ljworld.com.