Breathe

It sneaks in through flaired nostrils

teasing bloated thoughts.

They fight with wands of thorn

getting hotter, and faster.

Swirling in circles it collides with dormant demons

coaxing them to arise for battle.

Shrieking down into charcoal lungs

it steals what's left of dense smog.

Heart beats faster.

Need air—breathe.

It squeezes and grips at the center.

Tingling down to limp appendages

constricting muscles.

Blood pumps harder.

Tense—breathe.

Body suffocating,

mind unable to ward off the attack,

it spirals in, sinking deeper

leaving claw marks on porcelain lining.

Gasp—

Breathe.