Sick Dog

[Billy]

Sick Dog

It's night. A cold night.
I've turned up the thermostat.
Heavy socks. A blanket.
Chills, no fever
unless the thermometer's lying.
It's all a lie right now.
I was grateful a half-a-day ago.
Cough, cough, cough!
Where's this going,
back and forth between
Death Valley and the arctic?
My body won't lie down.
The ache doesn't have an off
and on switch. If this is anything
like dying, I'm backed in a corner
with the darkness
gnawing at my bones.
All I can count on is sleep,
if it settles between aches
and coughs like a pitiful, sick dog.

[FranktheFrank]

It gets worse with age
Then you die

[BobBradshaw]

I like these lines…. I like the playfulness here. Comedy is often the best way to talk seriously. A good way to write slant poetry.

Chills, no fever
unless the thermometer's lying.
It's all a lie right now.
I was grateful a half-a-day ago.
Cough, cough, cough!
Where's this going,
back and forth between
Death Valley and the arctic?
My body won't lie down.
The ache doesn't have an off
and on switch.

[CalebMurdock]

I have to say, you've captured the feeling of being sick pretty well.

My only suggestion:

The ache doesn't have an off [and on] switch.

Take out the words in brackets.