My Unstable Poetry

acute bronchitis

I think I have acute bronchitis
(pause)
my cough is stained
with the white lies I tell
and my face is covered in relief
but my brain is stained in confusion and sadness
my acute bronchitis probably isn't like yours
I cough constantly, so hoarse but soft
I get asked if I'm okay
I respond with a light, "yeah I've been like this for a couple days."
Another white lie.
I mean don't get me wrong, I've been coughing for a couple days but sometimes I feel like I've been coughing longer.
Coughing longer. Drawing attention, so I could stop taking the strawberry flavored pills and berry drops that I swallow down and just stay silent
my silent, speak up
my silent, stop it
my silent.
Acute bronchitis. Self diagnoses.
Only one of those things can work out.