the first line that came to me
when I turned the song on
was your tongue down my spine

how can I paraphrase colour
turn green into something comprehensive
my definition
the shape of my own hands
the things they once held

when I knew fire
it was in the form of fingers
and the elements became
a thing we expended from our skins

the atmosphere
a byproduct of our history
where will I draw breath
the well is empty

we can not see in such sandstorms
our roots find no love
where there is so little water and
without water I can not make the air
we have left less toxic