breath calls me br ragged ripples in stagnant waters br I hear the alarum of bells br I feel the beestings of needles br I smell the watery blood br I see the waxen patina of my skin br br breath calls me br and the burrowing of a drill br sucking, sucking, sucking out my life substance br while the man in white br tells me kindly, br 'you have leukaemia' br br I have six days before the light goes out br breath calls me br easier now, I am infused with transfused blood br I 'see' the donor's face br a bonny girl br with large, spread-eagled hands br she gives me life br br breath calls me br it is one hundred and six days past the flickering light br and I can walk your pathbr br Penny Hemansbr br