The following version of this poem was used to create this guide: Wulfe, James William. “Breath and Distance.” Lowlife Lit Press, https://www.lowlifelitpress.com/post/breath-and-distance. Note that all parenthetical citations refer to the line number from which the quotation is taken.

“Breath and Distance” is a 36-line poem by American poet James William Wulfe. Using an omniscient point of view, the poem describes a homeless man who lives a seemingly romantic life on the rails. It shows the hardship of this moorless existence, but also conveys a sense of pride in being free.