I’m leaking oxygen
along with the carbon dioxide,
little spurts of confidence
hissing out of my seams,
my nasal passage,
my toes, the backs of my knees

Don’t you see I’ve been holding
in the rants for too long?
The lining ripped and the leak
might not be patchable
You’ll need to send an expert
in sewing flesh and veins

I am not a balloon, contrary to opinion
I am not infinitely re-inflatable