Bated Breath

Trees inhale as we exhale -  

a rhythm of slow flow 

between our two lifeforms,

A mutual exchange 

to sustain and continue,

to gain and renew.  

Trees inhale as we exhale 

and as time wears on, 

Our collective lungs 

have begun to 

                  collapse.  

Trees can’t inhale all that we exhale,  

So we must wait, 

with bated breath,  

while as a population, 

we act against 

our potential suffocation.