"Exhale" - Contest Entry

"30 second" poem about pain, struggle, denial, and strength. For "Twisted Poetry" contest.

"Exhale"

You crush my bones,
throw stones,
clench knives.
"Nine lives."

I feel my heart
stop, start.
Flatline.
"I'm fine."

I may perhaps
collapse.
I flail.
"Exhale."

         - e. rose

Prompt ▶︎

A Half-Minute Poem is a twisted Minute Poem created as a challenge at Writing.com by CJ. The elements are the same as the Minute Poem with the syllable count cut in half.
1. A verse form written in 3 quatrains
2. syllabic 4-2-2-2 4-2-2-2 4-2-2-2 per line
3. rhymed aabb ccdd eeff

Entered Round 1 Deadline May 20