Fluid Air

People say that the air is a fluid. That we all are swimming

 through fog and smoke and dust 

  of mulling cars and dreaming factories

Whitened people 

 watch the earth from a distance

  their control centre humming a lullaby

   of cicadas in summer and snow like white lace

The earth is blue

  and the astronauts grow jealous

   of us, who swim with protest signs

    and who are too scared to drink

     

  our fluid air.