Mr Coxsackie is here today
Mr Coxsackie brings wheezing and rain
from muddy skies
those ceaseless staircases and uphill battles

Mr Coxsackie is hunger
He feeds his children
on pleura and thorax

The pain of a linebacker
pushing the oncoming team
below your shoulder blades


Skip and smile at Mr Coxsackie
bring flowers for his birthday
He brought you a gift
of time
such as it is
paid for in a.m nights
ambling through the house
looking for relief
any
shivering for a sip
of oxygen with a lemon twist
and gaudy paper umbrella

Handed over the quill
and paper
while he was feeding