Little Nell Lay in Her Garret

Little Nell lay in Her Garret

A caul of fever rested on bruised eyebrows
and wrapped itself like a winding sheet
far below the shops bell tinkled
and the door clicked shut
normally welcome the gentle sound
poked a hand up through the floor
through the wood
and shoved hard at the back of her head
while another clammy hand seemed
to press upon her eyes
the clop of a horse
a sweet reminder of winter sunshine
became the aching ribs of a bad fall
she arched her neck for breath like the drowning
to breathe in
and her exhale was a narrow wheeze
through rusty organ pipes
her cough could not make space for air
she traced a drip of condensation on the window
beside her bed
the delicious trickle chill of it
a touch of ice on her tongue
there were footsteps on the stairs
a moments hope of a doctor with a cure
a poultice,or laudanum for her throbbing head
"hello darling are you better yet?
whats for dinner and what do I do with it?
little Nell moaned