(Poem 1)

...if it’s simply breathing? Heavy breathing? Smoker’s cough?
Is it an irritating tickle in the back of your throat? Like a stray hair from a
load of laundry that plants itself firmly between your big toe and the others?
An annoyance?
Is it long-lasting? How many days have you felt this? A month?
Maybe you are over-exaggerating? You are witty, aren’t you?
Oh! Bronchitis! That’s common, right? Right.
You feel it in your chest? I think that’s normal, right?
Right.
Bub, are you feeling okay? You’re wanting another opinion? You don’t think that would hurt? Hurt who? You don’t think it would hurt you, right? Right.
They say it’s pneumonia? You feel trapped? Do you remember when we'd wrestle and I'd win? Is it heavy like I was? Weight that pins you?
Does a snail anguish at the tug of high tide? Maybe
they hold on? Is that what you’re doing? Holding on? Do you want to be held?
You don’t need that? Why? Because you’re strong? Yeah, so what if I think that’s stupid? Gosh, you’re so stubborn, you know? What if I’m afraid?
Can I have a hug?
Another visit? What are they saying? Come on! I’m old enough to be included, right? Right. What did they say?
What did they say?
What did they say, Chance?!
Your heart..?

What about it? It’s really big? What does that mean? You think the chicks will eat that up? You’re so immature, you know that? I wonder if you know? Why am I frustrated? You’re deflecting, right? Right.
You know what I dreamt this afternoon? What is God’s favorite season? Does He like the sun as much as I do? Does it feel warm to Him? Is He warmth?
Does that mean I feel Him?
What does it mean to feel Him?
Is it the wall of thick aroma on Christmas morning that penetrates the air beneath my nose? Or is it grabbing fistfuls of Florida’s course sand? Does it slip through your fingers like it does mine? Bub, you remember those trips? You remember that feeling?
I wonder.. if I dreamt of sand because it knows not where it comes from or where it goes?
Am I scared? Are you?
No, right?
Right.