I learned to breathe
through the fracture

There was light in the room
but it felt too thin
Like the air had edges
like it cut going in

I kept my mouth closed
like a secret in wire
Held one spark too long
and called it desire

Every word I swallowed
turned crystal in my chest
Every perfect warning
settled where I kept the rest

I was all clean outline
and no safe escape
A body made of pressure
in a beautiful shape

If I inhale too deep
the whole thing shines
If I hold it too long
it becomes mine

You can see right through me
but don't call me clear
There is blood in this brightness

There is heat in this fear

Glass lung
glowing in the dark
Glass lung
breaking around the spark

If I sing too high
will the whole frame split
If I let it in
will I live through it

Glass lung
still learning how to burn
without turning to it

Glass lung
Glass lung

I wore calm like metal
I wore grace like smoke
I let every soft hand
pretend I would not choke

But my ribs know thunder
and my throat knows flame
I can dress it in white
it still calls my name

Every mercy came polished
Every answer came bright
Every promise looked holy
under fracture-light

So I kept the damage
and I kept the sound
And I built my own breath
from the pieces I found

If I inhale too deep
the whole thing shines
If I hold it too long
it becomes mine

You can see right through me
but don't call me clear
There is blood in this brightness

There is heat in this fear

Glass lung
glowing in the dark
Glass lung
breaking around the spark

If I sing too high
will the whole frame split
If I let it in
will I live through it

Glass lung
still learning how to burn
without turning to it

Don’t save me
with cleaner light

Don’t name me
more fragile
than I am

I was never made
to survive untouched

I was made
to glow under pressure

Let it crack
Let it ring
Let the clear thing
learn to sing

Let it hurt
Let it show
Let the broken air
still glow

Glass lung
glowing in the dark
Glass lung
breaking around the spark

If I sing too high
let the whole frame split
If I let it in
I will live through it

Glass lung
I am learning how to burn
without turning to it

Glass lung
Glass lung