breathing exercise for the hopeless

take a deep breath

in, now exhale,

the yoga

instructor says, sitting

in her pink

leotards

with flowers in her hair.

her arms are outstretched

above her head

with bangles dangling

from her

anorexic wrists.

i've been

hearing this baloney

since 1967.

inhale the hope,

exhale

the hate.

it's usually the same

people you

see

sitting down in road

blocking

traffic

for some far-left protest

and getting arrested

for attacking

police.