ILLNESS

Weight,
heaviness,
labored breathing,
wheezing.

Cold limbs,
fevered brow,
burning eyes
begging for sleep;
not fitful sleep
tossing with nightmares,
but pure, restful,
uninterrupted.

In the mirror
the face of another,
flesh creased from oxygen tubing;
wrinkles deep as prunes,
dark patches under eyes.

A shivering spectre of illness
stares back at me.

Pneumonia taking its toll.


K K McClelland
October 19, 2002