The air around us

by Josh Skyler and Sami Etsimaje

From birth we have remained cultivated to seize its very being

In death we grasp the helm of its sleeve

Disregard it’s extent until our duration is expiring

It was present at our very conception

and it will be adjacent when the mothers grieve

choosing to conclude our existence with erratic selection

at the peak of the mountain we find it thriving

but past the clouds its duties are relieved

just the presence of Marlboro renders it quiet

like a myth we doubt its it ever lived

it’s the cupid with the scythe.

Photo of Josh Skylar by Sami Misan