Ambush

This cloud of such unnatural blue
exploding out of some small point
just ahead – comes so fast
it fills the tunnel, pushes
up against the roof,
eats all the air,
drives us back
away from its thick
expanding billows

as we turn to run
and stumble
knowing we won’t
make it out in time
won’t reach clean air
before we take
at least one
poisonous blue breath –
that just may be enough
to end us.