IN THE BEGINNING

 

In the beginning was breathing.

Before the beginning was overbreathing.
I'm playing the clarinet.

Breathe in, play, breathe in, play, breathe in, play, breathe in, play

It sounds exhausting just listening to it.
And the CO² builds up, builds up, builds up

Till I feel I'm passing out.

 

I tell my friend.
She says, I have an oboe in a cupboard.

I bought it with my first pay cheque.

Try it. When you go back to the clarinet

It'll be like when you stop beating your head against the wall.

 

I fell headlong for the oboe,

Never looked back,

Never played that clarinet again,

Never turned into salt.