Tina,
These "things" are aspects of her psyche not physical objects--I don't
think Jay meant it to be the literal nitrogen and oxygen we breathe --
Jay?  They're psychological vestments, as it were, and are represented here
metaphorically as light, airy fabric ("gauze") and as the air itself.  The
"surrounding air" can be understood as an extension of the _anima_ -- as
the soul's aura; hers is compared to "sweet leaves" and "spring wind".
Tim
 
Christina Poppy wrote:
 
> what then, are the "things that sheathe her"?  air itself doesn't make
> sense.  where do you get the connotation of sheathing as air?  is it in
> the dictionary that way?  i considered it as more of a cloaking.
>
> tina