Their skin was so bad
It swelled up like an overinflated rubber glove
It got them worst on the hands and face
Raw and fat and skinned and pink
Like a tenth-degree burn
All over

They had to be kept isolated from the environment to prevent infection
We blew up giant inflatable balls and put them inside
They were half filled with what appeared to be a saline solution
Enough space to splash around in agony

Why was I in with one of them?
His face and hands were so swollen
He couldn't speak, only groan in pain
I wanted to help
He didn't deserve it
No one did

When he stretched his mouth to scream I could see that it had spread to his teeth
They were black
All over