Asthma

Ha!
I speak of filling lungs.
What mirth. What falsehood.

The real test
is the long, slow
squeeze
as every molecule
wheezes
grasping
at tubes
that fail
out
and your throat burns
chin itches
fingers twitch

and they're completely
empty.

To breathe, to breathe,
what a luxury.
Water or sawdust,
sugar crystals,
spiders, even,
what a pleasure.