The Queen of Sighs
Today I captured a sigh
a breath burdened with disses
disinterest disappointment disapproval
In the mirror I see her face
In the lift of my chin her traits
At my mother’s knee
buffeted by tiny hurts
curled inward by doubt
I learnt the power of that sound
that exhalation
Today I captured a sigh
an expressive hiss
impatience intolerance
There’s no dictionary definition
for loud breathing
a language I learnt early
from a Queens of Sighs
and in repeating patterns
today I captured a sigh
and gently expelled it