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listen: mp3 file (:59) read from the book Living in a Big World, live 12/14/10, live at the Café in Chicago
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of the intro and the poems “Packing”, “Just Can’t Breathe” and “Tribal Scream” read live 12/14/10 from the open mic at the Café in Chicago (on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr). #janetkuypersbookreading #janetkuyperspoetry #janetkuypers #janetkuypersthecafegallery
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video Live in Chicago at the Café
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video 07/05/11 of Janet Kuypers performing her poetry @ Chicago’s the Café
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of the intro to the 07/05/11 open mic at the Café in Chicago, with poems and her Close Cover Before Striking poems
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of Kuypers reading this poem 4/8/13 at the Frankenstone art center in Chicago (Sony)
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of Kuypers reading this poem 4/8/13 at the Frankenstone art center in Chicago (Canon)
video See YouTube video of Kuypers performing poetry in a poetry reading, as she was called the “Headliner” 4/8/13 at Chicago’s Frankenstone art center this video was filmed from a Sony camera; posted on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Instagram and Tumblr). #janetkuypers #janetkuyperspoetryshow
video See YouTube video of Kuypers performing poetry in a poetry reading, as she was called the “Headliner” 4/8/13 at Chicago’s Frankenstone art center (this video was filmed from a Canon camera; posted on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Instagram, and Tumblr). #janetkuypers #janetkuyperspoetryshow
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See YouTube video live 10/21/17 of Janet Kuypers (L; Hue C.) reading her poems “Broke the Reflection”, “Just Can’t Breathe” and “Made Any Difference” from her book “Give Me The News” at “Recycled Reads” open mic, at a bookstore affiliated with the Austin Public Library.
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See YouTube video live 10/21/17 of Janet Kuypers (Lumix) reading her poems “Broke the Reflection”, “Just Can’t Breathe” and “Made Any Difference” from her book “Give Me The News” at “Recycled Reads” open mic, at a bookstore affiliated with the Austin Public Library.
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See YouTube video live 10/21/17 of Janet Kuypers (L; Sepia) reading her poems “Broke the Reflection”, “Just Can’t Breathe” and “Made Any Difference” from her book “Give Me The News” at “Recycled Reads” open mic, at a bookstore affiliated with the Austin Public Library.
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See YouTube video live 10/21/17 of Janet Kuypers (L; Thr.) reading her poems “Broke the Reflection”, “Just Can’t Breathe” and “Made Any Difference” from her book “Give Me The News” at “Recycled Reads” open mic, at a bookstore affiliated with the Austin Public Library.
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See Youtube video of Janet Kuypers reading her poems “Just Can’t Breathe”, “Dentist in Iraq”, and “End of an Empire” from her v5 cc&d boss lady poetry collection book “On the Edge” for the 2019 Poetry Bomb 4/29/12 at Circle Brewery (on a Panasonic Lumix T56 camera).
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See Youtube video of Janet Kuypers reading her poems “Just Can’t Breathe”, “Dentist in Iraq”, and “End of an Empire” from her v5 cc&d boss lady poetry collection book “On the Edge” for the 2019 Poetry Bomb 4/29/12 at Circle Brewery (Panasonic Lumix T56 camera; Sepia).

Just Can’t Breathe

Janet Kuypers
12/14/10

in memory of my Uncle Pete
you will be missed

over the years
with all of our problems
I’ve felt like I’ve been drowning

and when I’ve felt
like we’ve been in the clear
life began suffocating me

I know this sounds selfish
but I just can’t take this anymore
I just can’t breathe

I’ve served my country
led a good life, my family loves me
but these demons tell me it’s time to go

this torment follows me wherever I go
this pain called life ages me
I wheeze, fall down on one knee

I need to take a nap
but I’m afraid to fall asleep
that’s when I’m vulnerable

will I gasp for air
when you collapse my lung
will I feel my chest cave in

or will I know that you’re right
and know this is my time
and just say farewell in my sleep


Copyright © 2010 Janet Kuypers.

All rights reserved. No material
may be reprinted without express permission.


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