Heartbeats

Work out. Ten laps
Chin ups. Look good

Steam room. Dress warm
Call home. Fresh air

Eat right. Rest well
Sweetheart. Safe sex

Test blood. Count cells
Reds thin. Whites low

Dress warm. Eat well
Short breath. Fatigue

Night sweat. Dry cough
Loose stools. Weight loss

Get mad. Fight back
Call home. Rest well

Don’t cry. Take charge
No sex. Eat right

Call home. Talk slow
Chin up. No air

Arms wide. Nodes hard
Cough dry. Hold on

Mouth wide. Drink this
Breathe in. Breathe out

No air. Breathe in
Breathe in. No air

Blackout. White rooms
Head hot. Feet cold

No work. Eat right
CAT scan. Chin up

Breathe in. Breathe out
No air. No air

Thin blood. Sore lungs
Mouth dry. Mind gone

Six months? Three weeks?
Can’t eat. No air
Today? Tonight?
​It waits. For me

Sweet heart. Don’t stop
Breathe in. Breathe out