Lungs

pair of bellows that inhabit the smithy of my chest
fan my soul-forge, drive my trip-hammer heart

Lungs,

soft sponges delicately branched like coral
interdigitate with salt circulation of my blood swum by
red cells and white cells that flash cilia like fins of fish

Lungs,

uncurtained windows on the winds of the world,
flesh-walled caverns filled with oracular darkness
and vision-laden smoke—

Lungs,

territory under threat, capillaries clogged with particulates
visions throttled by virus, coral bleached to bone
smith’s labors slowed to a dull pound.

Books Available
The Day of My First Driving Lesson
Country Well-Known as an Old Nightmare's Stable
High-Voltage Lines
Knocking from Inside