rebarbative

it begins with a sniffle
innocuous
unremarkable

then a tickle
a humph-humph
throat clearing
before bed

upon the dawn
swallowing rawness
cured by a cup  -
honeyed tea

but before day's end
the virus rallies
and sallies forth
commando style

the sinus walls swell
with bravado
as they attack back
clothed in their viscous coat -
kevlar for the delicate dermis
 
the repetitive rebarbative
post-nasal
drip
drip
drip
should theoretically
lessen
the throbbing pressure
that makes teeth ache
and thoughts blur
yet

like a magician's scarf
the wheeze seems ceaseless
a span of sluggish slogging
from first to last lights
until, like a magician's coin,
suddenly it's gone.