A Burly Congestion

by Ben Nardolilli

13 March 2026

I am coughing and the bedis coughing, And only one of us isproductive heave the mattress diaphragm feathers go spilling on the floor Gather from morning to morningmaking a minor blizzard of fluff Real or synthetic downywho can tell? So far no one else investigates It looks like the room held a cockfight on the third floor Or else is the site of Brooklyn's latest artisanal abattoir Or I was swinging a chicken around my headglean and gather my sins The effect remains the same the duetcontinues within these wallsI am coughing and my bed is coughing Only one of us feels badfor not sweeping

about the author

Ben Nardolilli is a scrivener and a theoretical MFA candidate at Long Island University. His work has appeared in Perigee Magazine, Door Is a Jar, The Delmarva Review, Red Fez, The Oklahoma Review, JMWW, Quail Bell Magazine, and Slab. Follow his publishing journey at mirrorsponge.blogspot.com and on Instagram @ssenjaminnardolilli.

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