there are creatures among us
simple creatures
which thrive without oxygen.
without air.
they exist, persist, move, dance,
as if thrown into a death trance,
all without a single breath.
the scent of a rose
freshly blossomed leaves
newly cut grass
the aroma of a spring rain
or the spray of the salty ocean mist
will never surround them,
hold them,
comfort them.
deep breaths
shallow breaths
excited breaths
will never
cause them to pause,
struggle to live,
fight the coming collapse.
for they live without
their entire lives.
what if they inhaled deeply
for just a second –
the scent of a newly blossomed rose
covered in dew drops
on the back freshly cut grass?
would they ever go back?
fail to breathe ever again?
deny the beauty they now know
surrounds them?
or would they be trapped in our world,
filled with oxygen until they burst,
a death-filled curse?
Shaking, shuddering, clutching
tight the beliefs of what once was
only to be forced to live in the
beauty of what is now,
fighting the ever growing out of control
downward spiral
as their lives filled with air
beautiful yet tragic,
entranced with the magic.
dizzy, spent, exhausted,
fearful yet anticipating
even welcoming the coming death
much as a sleeping caterpillar longs to
burst forth from her chrysalis,
live for three days,
spreading joy and beauty,
only to finally collapse,
lost, forever.
one breath,
one life,
one joy,
gone too soon,
beauty formerly unknown
brings them to
their knees,
forcing them prostrate on the ground,
unable to fight the dizzying array
of intoxicating scents, senses, emotions.
so they fight,
trapped in a death-dance,
wishing they could break free,
wanting to do just one thing –
without fear of losing all they know forever –
breathe.