I never had flu till I had turned 45,

not true flu, I had woken early one morning

whilst I was back packing through rural Normandy

with my head resting in a

dirty storm formed puddle

and I know I probably looked awful for about a week

and the thoughts of unfulfilled dreams

of making peace in my time across the Channel

brought to a premature and early end.

Now every week I seem to be fighting back infection,

the assault on the body, the throat, the eyes,