it started with a chill in the air

it started with a chill in the air

the sneezing began
bless you, bless you
a million times an hour

the nose began to drip
like water from a leaky faucet
a tissue served as a dam

the stuffy head floated
far from reason and numbers
the eyes stared blankly at the screen

chills ran through to the bone
blankets heaped on blankets
mouth breathing through the night

woke to partched and swollen throat
the day dragged by
sleepy head began to pound

lots of tea but little pee
a stuffy nose and achy bones
i'm too busy to be sick