A poem, at a fundamental level, is an invitation to breathe.

Language, too, begins with breath. Say you begin reading this passage aloud. Before any sound is expressed, every word originates in the lungs. Exhaled air is pushed through the vocal folds, transforming into the hum of voiced sound, while other currents of breath remain unvoiced. Together, they are shaped by the lips, teeth and tongue into speech. After years of practice, this acquired skill has become instinctive. The tip of the tongue taps behind the front teeth, momentarily building pressure before releasing the distinct flutter ...

 

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