Morning and night

and night and morning

I spend my time with a machine

breathing and re-breathing

and forcing salt into the lungs

all for the push of air

morning and night

and night and morning

the air chokes up in my lungs

breathing through flutters

and forcing violent coughs

for obstruction and impediment to spread

breath is a pause

a gift

a quiet miracle

meant to be without pain

or constrictions

or limits

still you will find me

morning and night

and night and morning

with the hum of a machine

helping my lungs

open up to the air – Caroline A. Slee