Belleville my hospital

so many cool rings on this plane
block letters set in gold

holding their phones

I don’t know yet I’m flying to my sick bed

on Rue de la Chine

I’m healthy enough for Chinese ravioli at first

soon my ribs feel like they’re

getting closer together

back coming up to meet the front

from the pressure

of laying in bed for days with the flu

my love moves my legs like a bike for me

and we’re both trying to figure out

if this is a joke
or necessary

I’m starting not to feel my feet

they haven't borne enough brunt?

all I see is grey and drink tea

Benj is almost too skinny to be a model

legally speaking
working hard to pass the time

a few more weeks of this and I could be skinny enough

but too weak to walk

or I do and 

I feel like everyone on the streets

sees the American with the flu
eyes dead and freezing

snot on her euros

I feel like I’m glowing red from the inside out

ripping off my clothes in the wine shop 
to set my fever free
from under my purple bra

my pink t-shirt

my camel sweater

black sweatshirt
blue puff coat

yellow gloves
green scarf 

I am ridiculous here
without the flu

I beg my sweetheart
for something
anything
walk me to the
cemetery

which turned out to
be a good idea for
a little perspective