Alchemisland

Spasmracked lungs ransacked air’s collection sacks sapped and blacked,

Tar attacks the tubes and life’s Beaufort strength is lowered, hump-backed

With coughing, tense with contractions like mare birthing. Less coughed but hacked,

Like a cat sick of hirsute innards, hyucked retched, held the walls of the jacks

At 3 AM then slank back to bed breathless as a gas attack, what breathing lacked

Acquired long breath intakes, falling head strikes something like soft flak.

A dire wasting disease hastens the wedding date,

Pope Evaristus decreed that bond must be priest-o’ersee’d;

Though he was dead almost, deader than Finnegan, dragged

Like the cat’s cargo. A ghost in pallor and impression, gagged

Between oaths but stood long enough to get Her bagged.