Why is air?

 

Why is air?

Because air fills
where nothing is.

Because wind is air that is moving.
It pushes the clouds across the sky.

Because clouds are water floating in air.
The water falls as rain
and the earth becomes mud
and then worms come out and play.
Careful! Don’t step on worms.

Because worms are alive. They eat earth.
They breathe air, drink water.

Because you make me explain
the simple poetry of everyday life.

Because life with you is my earth, water, sky.
Thank you for asking why.

……

First published in Your Daily Poem. Thank you editor Jayne Jaudon Ferrer.
Note: I wrote this poem in 1979 to the wide-eyed boy in a box in this photo.