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A Breath of Life, by Sue Clayton

24/6/2022

19 Comments

 
Breath weaves through the trees pursuing new life, its former host having exhaled its last.

Time-honoured distress cries from a distant farmhouse draw Breath out from the forest.

‘Maaah,’ a ewe bleats mournfully, trying to lick her cold, inert lamb into existence.

‘Why isn’t it crying?’ An anguished mother implores, as a midwife tries to feverishly massage warmth into a newborn, slowly turning blue.

Breath’s former host’s heart had stopped, but the lungs last gasp was robust.

The lamb mewls feebly, raises its head.

Weak but stable, the newborn wails.

Breath had been bestowed with sufficient life force for two.

19 Comments
Mimi Grouse
24/6/2022 11:19:08 am

This is marvellous, Sue!

Reply
Marjan Sierhuis
24/6/2022 12:10:41 pm

Heart warming, Sue.

Reply
David Milner
24/6/2022 12:13:14 pm

I agree with above. Sufficient life force for two. Lovely.

Reply
Sandra James
24/6/2022 01:23:28 pm

Beautiful, Sue. I held my breath, then thankfully exhaled after that perfect last line.

Reply
Padmini Krishnan
24/6/2022 01:44:46 pm

Wow, this was brilliant, Sue.

Reply
Pamela Kennedy
24/6/2022 02:24:09 pm

Such a lovely, tender story, Sue.

Reply
Peggy Gerber
24/6/2022 02:37:57 pm

Surprisingly emotional. Loved it.

Reply
Mary Anne Mc Enery
24/6/2022 03:14:26 pm

Echo Sandra James comments.
Thank you Sue.

Reply
Jim Bartlett link
24/6/2022 03:36:12 pm

Love that opening line, so well written, and really sets up the story.
Nicely done, Sue
Jim

Reply
Jennifer Duncan
24/6/2022 04:43:17 pm

Very poetic. Beautiful writing.

Reply
Krystyna
24/6/2022 05:36:19 pm

How profoundly beautiful, Sue!

Reply
Sivan Pillai
25/6/2022 05:14:57 am

Marvelous description of the birth, Sue.

Reply
Barbara Wheatley link
25/6/2022 12:36:43 pm

Lovely to have such a life force in nature, Sue. Thank you.

Reply
Paritosh Chandra Dugar
25/6/2022 07:07:59 pm

Loved the powerful metaphorical expressions. Marvellous, Sue.

Reply
Susmita Ramani link
26/6/2022 01:22:03 am

THis is so moving and gorgeous, Sue!

Reply
Sue Clayton
27/6/2022 03:42:19 am

Appreciate all your kind words. For every newborn that draws breath, an old soul gasps its last. That's the time-honored way of life.

Reply
Don Tassone link
27/6/2022 03:46:00 am

Life begets life. Beautifully crafted, Sue.

Reply
Tom Baldwin
27/6/2022 03:58:52 am

Lovely!

Reply
Alyce
1/7/2022 02:06:05 am

This is so good, Sue! Loved the creativity.

Reply



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