There is too much light
in the air today.
My eyelids won’t retreat;
they’re the heavy squad,
repelling all invaders.
My protection
from a day too heavy
for me,
for my chest,
my arms.
my legs.
I can only lie
down
beneath
its weight.
Breathing takes will.
Push, push the invisible hand
up,
feel it press back
down.
Repeat.
and repeat.
Repeat again.
Muscles rebel.
Fibres tug against their tense kin,
stiffening, a shudder of spasms.
Nerve endings return fire,
trajectory dipping from collarbone
toward elbow
past wrist
till fingertips vibrate
like
plucked
harp
strings.
breathe.
breathe.
The throb, I ache.
My feet go AWOL – no –
now they’re back with a burn.
Television assaults me,
sound and vision launch
breathe.
combined assaults,
attacking my senses.
My brain scrambles to keep up.
breathe.
In silence, the soft pillows embrace me.
I lean in.
Let them tend my wounds.
- by Ellie Conway; cinderdrellie at WordPress
Scotland
