I Die Breathing

Broken breath as the excuse

bleak and burrowed

by the bad air.

Allergens, fires, cars, smoke

pollution of lungs

finds its way into

the brain.

Scattered in from far away

washed in on the worst day

could have rained, but instead

a fire came.

It ain’t a volcano

melting my breath like

ashen butter

but might just as well.

I die breathing today.