These lungs
It’s as if the Felter, handpicked  the sheep
right from the get go
then plucked out 
every uptight strand of Virgin hair
Weaving it
Brushing it
Kinky curly on a new-born

As seconds
Gently sway into minutes
minutes into hours
as the chosen surrender itself
into the hands the Felter
Chaos coming in to order
a bunch of grapes
Cosy
tree of life
every minute detail
in this supple warm gentle hands
He knitted me

These lungs
Planted watered
squirming wriggling
catching the blooded breath
the mother gave it
Breathe
in,
out

These lungs
Set to fail
First task,
shrinking into a floating prune
crowning, becoming, living 
writhing into a wailing being

These lungs
resuscitating at very intake of breath
every turn, every corner 
hour, month, years
Breathe! Breathe!

These lungs
Letting me down
Tree of life ?
What a laugh!
Shrivelled
Cornered
Huddled
Palpitating
Tortured rhythm
Swaying , basketball
Huddled swimming
Huddled cheering
Tree of life?

These lungs
Walnuts, lightly cradled
in His gentle supple hands
thumping prunes
swaying back and forth
seaweeds floating by the seaside

These lungs
on touchdown
coughing, splattering
a rusty old jet
dipping in and out
like my mamas embroidery
her needle 
her thread
weaving 
dipping in
out
threads grazing past
those microscopic dotted holes
will they absorb
gasp in
sucking droplets of air
like my Ikea tissue holder

These lungs
pulling the rug
from underneath my feet
leaving me whizzing
in
air
like Wonder woman
 
Coventry UK, March 2020

Model/artist: Laura Nyahuye

Wordsmith: Laura Nyahuye

Designer maker: Laura Nyahuye

Photographer: John Whitmore