Never Give Up. Never Say Die

• William Patston, Grade 8
• Poetry
• 2013

It used to be so simple, the act of breathing
Suck air in, Push air out
But now it is not
Breathing will not come
Not deep and rich
But short and sharp
Quick and thin
Small and stuffy
Nothing is easy
How can anything be easy again?
Running and breathing
Then feet pounding dust
And dust hitting mouth
Which then travels to chest
Cue the coughing fit
Repeat.