Dare I breathe even?
Would you hear, perhaps
Even the quietest of inhales
And exhales, were I to do so?
Might I be tempted to utter
Something perhaps not quite
Appropriate, were I to break
The seal that binds my lips
Under the guise of taking
A deep breath?

Had I and did you, could it
Somehow still be alright?
Or would moonbeams fade
And drift away on the memory
Of a shooting star? Would
Regret slip in and steal the air
And would the melody still
Live there? Or would the sound
Of my hushed and lonely voice
Tear it away?

Breathless, I am, and silent
At least for now as I consider the
Possibility that my eyes may
Give me away. Would you tell me
If they did? Should I close my eyes
And fall away to dream of moonbeams
Shining bright? And if I clasp
The air and beg the song and listen,
Quietly, as the night moves on…
Would that be alright?

- Or -

would you have me

breathe

... here, now, tonight?

Christine Austin Cole

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/here-now-tonight/