You run on

A heartbeat is stronger under duress

(Or is it just louder?)

throb.throb.throb.

It beats so hard that

It rocks me gently

Like a lullaby

But I'm not tired this time

A heartbeat is all we are

(Because it craves attention)

It pushes out cranial, respiratory,

Nervous, immune, skeletal

(Am I scaring you now, sweetheart?)

Mind spirals from my control

Concentrate on breathing

A heartbeat keeps me from escaping

An in-body-experience

Compulsion to breathe to full capacity

Keeps me ticking over

(My heart is perfectly healthy)

Another breath

Slow and measured and excruciating

Control is all I wanted

I'm fine.