Pleurisy by Day

Pleurisy by Day

Breathing is a movement of sticks rubbing
creaking in a papery high wind
a whistle around a window frame of ribs
a whispery crackle of lungs and lining
all under tons of Jupiter water
Io and Callisto pulling gravity like taffy
and I'm deep sea diving in a metal helmet
connected by hissing air and echo
it will get worse before it is better
my Mother can see it coming
that going of breath
even though now she can laugh
and hug and talk of holidays
At night when I sleep
I can breath without thinking