The psychology of air

Posted on by In mind and out

The psychology
of the air has changed
her pathology
She calls to me
and sits here on the couch
for therapy
She’s embodied with her hair
a whirlwind
and she whispers secrets
that are heavier
than oxygen
The air,
now her particles
are loneliness
Through paper masks
she rustles,
breathless
with anxiety
The very air,
she is crying
and she’s solitary

Et tu Air?
Air, you too?

…

Art: glass lung sculpture, Annie Cattrell – “making the invisible visible”

87 thoughts on “The psychology of air”

  3. Your personification leaves me breathless and your talent awe-struck! Rachel, this is creativity at its best! “now her particles
    are loneliness”…fantastic! This is brilliant writing, Rachel. ❤️❤️

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    1. I was just writing something very similar about being in awe of your talent – on your poem!

      Thank you for your kind comments about this, I am lucky to have the support of such a fabulous writer and friend ❤️❤️

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

  4. “…calls to me
and sits here on the couch
for therapy…”
    oh so true—even the very air is affected…and just wants to breathe with us…and cry. Beautiful, Rachel. Long distant mind hugs to you💓🧘‍♀️💓

    Liked by 5 people

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  7. I could feel the struggle and this seems very timely. Well done … and you gave me an idea to add to my possible future beach walk list. 🙂 Thank you.

    More importantly, hope you and those close to you are safe and well.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    1. Frank!! How are you and yours? Wait… did I just read this: “an idea to add to my possible future beach walk list”. Does this mean what I think it means?

      I am doing well thank you Frank… I grapple with what all of this means for everyone, but I’m doing ok. Lovely to hear from you 🙂.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. Glad you are doing well. We are well but with flashes of stir craziness.

        In my finale I mentioned the possibility if a new blog featuring just beach walks. I have been rewriting old ones … Especially many of the early ones that were short. I’ve added to most of the others ones too. While on the coast during Jan-Feb, drafted new ones. So yes … I would say odds are good for a return but not until late in the year … Sept-Dec range.

        I keep a list of topics … Every topic has a status code … Idea Notes Draft Ready Published … All old ones back to Draft stage. …. So I added “I-Air” to the list.

        Right now my list has about 100 Ideas … 30 Notes …. 105 drafts. So I’m well on my way. … Gives me something to do during Corona.

        Liked by 2 people

  8. Love love love this 😭 How do you paint everything in such haunting and delicate beauty? Forgive my absence if there are other works of yours that I may have missed, this past month has been especially trying, but I’m working extra hard to come out of this period of my life (on top of this period of global darkness and uncertainty) much stronger than I ever have been. Love and hugs to you Rachel, xoxo

    (I’ll have to return and scour your page for anything that I have missed.)

    Liked by 4 people

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    1. What I need to ask you Larisa, is how do you manage such elegance and beauty, and make me feel like my writing is how you describe it? Thank you, I treasure your thoughts on my work.

      Sweetheart, I’ve thought of you often, I miss you around here, and I’ve wondered if you are ok. You strike me as such a determined and triumphant spirit, I am sure you will come out of whatever has been trying you an even stronger version of yourself. I know it. Please take care of you, and let me know how you are doing from time to time. Love and hugs sent right back to you xoxox

      Liked by 3 people

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      1. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that you thought of me ☺️ I’m so happy that you, April and Rob are all on here on WordPress and I somehow found you three! I am definitely determined to come back on, I am missing being creative and stretching my brain to its limits to produce something beautiful. Thank you so much for your uplifting words, they mean so much to me.

        Liked by 2 people

  9. Wow, Rachel, this is unlike anything I’ve read on these grim times the world is facing… Each phrase is woven with such delicacy and intimacy that it truly feels like the air has confessed to you its anguish and helplessness… There’s something truly powerful about this poem – it is one of those pieces that will reveal a different meaning each time it is read!
    So glad to have come across this! My warmest regards!

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    1. Hi Isha 🙂. I feel so honoured to have these words.. it’s that thing where someone reads your poem in precisely the way that you intended and hoped, and then, praises it in ways better than you feel it could possibly deserve. Gosh, thank you, and warmest regards to you too.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  12. I am not sure which line is a fave, each one is truly a masterpiece, your words pierce and stay bold. secrets heavier than oxygen, like words never said. stunning work Rachel.

    Liked by 4 people

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      1. Well, its a very amazing poem, and it seems stitched with personal experience, insight and everything in between threads of imagination into these words. 🙂

        Liked by 3 people

  15. Never received a notification for this.

    My God, Rachel. This is awesome. Breathtaking if I dare say it.
    Secrets heavier than oxygen, her particles are loneliness.
    Your poetry is beautiful, inspiring, and again breathtaking.

    I love your poetry to death.

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

    1. You really are much too kind to me. “Breathtaking” seems to have particular meaning in this context. In fact, may have been a good title for the poem.

      As for loving it to death… I’ll take it! My poetry May die, but at least it will die loved 😂.

      Thank you, always.

      Liked by 2 people

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      3. I love reading and sharing your work!! Sharing is how I help! Ha! Yes, Rachel, doing well here (Austin region) I’m hoping You aren’t in one of the hotspots in the Country, are You!! We need to pray for Everyone!!!
        xoxo
        Chuck

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Racheal, I felt your poem in a very moving and emotional feel.

    “she rustles,
    breathless
    with anxiety
    The very air,
    she is crying
    and she’s solitary”

    It feels of our times and the air itself is finally rejuvenating and looking toward a hopeful future.

    That’s what I understood from your incredible poem. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  19. Rachel, my fabulous friend, this is one of the best pieces I’ve ever read. It’s dark. It’s powerful. It’s beautiful. It’s art. It’s the pain of the world and your unbelievable talent coming together. You speak our collective pain in gorgeous metaphors. We all need to thank you for that.

    Sending you tones of blessings and boats filled with love.

    “she whispers secrets
    that are heavier
    than oxygen
    The air,
    now her particles
    are loneliness
    Through paper masks
    she rustles,”

    My talented Rachel…. WOW.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. G, you are much too kind to me – those tones of blessings and boats of love also bought me your words. And that is the best gift ever. I am actually blown away by these compliments of this poem. Yes, our collective pain in the world… it’s everywhere G.

      My dearest Gabriela, please rest and be well. I send you snowdrops. It’s your turn xoxox

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. You deserve so much praise, Rachel. Yes, our collective pain is everywhere.
        “I send you snowdrops.” Where did you get the snowdrops? It should be autumn there. Plenty of narcissi, only for you.
        xoxoxo

        Liked by 2 people

  22. When even breathing becomes oppressive and angst beats one with its cudgel, what can one do but cry betrayal. An unsettling truth that’s eloquently expressed.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  25. I’m not sure why, but throughout reading the poem, that main thought I had was, ‘I can’t breathe.’
    Maybe it’s because the oxygen has become me, but the me I don’t like and for once I’m free of it yet it still lingers in the room. I love the poem!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

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Published by In mind and out

I write from the corner of the world and from the corners of my mind. I'm Rachel, it was in my mind, and now it's out.