First Air of Autumn

First air of autumn up your nose popcorn, heavy hairspray, nylon pantyhose please stand and bow your heads and pray you don’t get old

Flashback to being young, triggered by the smells of autumn.

The nurture and the admonition of your kind the rules of only strong survive Cross shaped swimming pools, down in the blood and lifted up forever seeking favor from the light

Even from a young age, humans are driven by both a desire to fit into society and a fear of death. Cross shaped swimming pools," "down in the blood," "seeking favor from the light" are direct references to the rituals of "Born-Again" Christians. High school iis generally the time when growing adults become introspective enough to realize that their time on earth is limited, but also expressing their hope to defeat death.

Schoolhouse hallway like a prairie highway sprawls the drop off spins away the sun The getting there just proves it’s nothing but a ball Pray the horizon never comes

I love this bit - the about a schoolhouse hallway being like a prarie highway - this touches more on the continual cycle of reproduction, youth and aging. More apprehension about reaching the horizon, the end of life, and at the same time the realization that life continues, and each generation has its own existential crisis.

The hearts of the daughters of the men, Won by the softness of the sons of women’s hands To leave it up to love would leave it left to chance

A realization that what we perceive as love and youthful attraction is merely natural selection at work, and the perpetuation of the human species.

Memory only shows the promise beauty broke of beauty ageless in it’s time Light attracts the same, you glance away and the glory fades and being on your arm has lost it’s shine

That youthful attraction is fleeting. It's only there to ensure a future supply of "daughters of men" and "sons of women."

School house hallway like a prairie highway sprawls The drop off spins away the sun Like eyes that once could cut through candle power on autumn nights First air of autumn leaves me numb

I see "eyes that once could cut through candlepower on autumn nights" as having a double meaning. It's both a reference to a romantic setting with a first love, and a recognition that visual acuity, much like youthful beauty, are fleeting.