if all the prisoners exhaled at once would it break the bridge of sighs? the sound, would it rupture handcuffs, ear drums? i heard a guy talk about years of fright - years of staying locked inside - the most socializing was peering out the window of his room on the 3rd floor. he was full of shake and superstition. his bathroom had no ceiling - he said he was a writer but he had no hands, he said he loved opera - but his ears were missing - he said "i am a gardener." the plants were dead - i told him "i am many things too" - i am falling backwards almost everyday - i am stuck in an elevator trapped in terrible conversation - i am running away from you and the fire you are about to light - i am an otter stealing a ride on a snapping turtle's back in a briny bay that does not charge rent and does not bother me when the turtle rubs my belly as the sunsets - we sigh together - we sigh not from sorrow, but from relief - tomorrow we're making a hammock - sigh - kind sighs