perhaps gritty is a better word or just plain matter-of-fact and to the point , as in this descriptive passage from `` oracion a traves de gass , '' about the hopeless feelings of a respiratory therapy worker : `` with the last of the air drawing in/ begins to fold its walls ; and he could imagine it/ like he could imagine from inexact memories/ the woman last night at the hospital , whom he began to like -- -/ her body pulling cell by cell/ apart before he had a chance to finish the rescue with the hose . ''