A Cough That Won't Go Away

Weeks stretch thin, like the air in my lungs,

a tickle that lingers, haunting my sleep.

In pharmacies, echoes of strangers’ sung,

as I chase down relief, the shadows run deep.

Staring through glass, my reflection reveals

a hollowed-out version, weary and small.

This cough, my companion, it steals what it steals,

and I’m left feeling trapped in this unending brawl.

Each echo that rattles, like chains in the night,

the sound of my struggle, it hangs in the air.

But somewhere beneath, there’s a flicker of light,

a hope that I’ll find my way out of despair.