in a non smoking apartment building
on west 25th street in
clevelnd,ohio
on 02/04/2022
at 8:18 in the morning
i was awoken by the smell of cigarettes…
it was a familiar cigarette-
it smelled like a marlboro red.
i got up off the caach
following the smell,
it led me out my door to the elevator
down to the 1st floor & out the door…
i walked down the street
marching like a soldier,
my heart was my gun-
i ended up at the store
buying a pack of marlboro red,
i walked out & lit a cigarette
just so i could smell it,
usually if i wake to cigarettes
i’d rather be smelling burnt toast
& have someone a window-
but this familiar smell of a smell
reminds me of you my Beatrice,
when i looked up at yr eyes
looking down at me
as i slept in yr lap,
i awoke out of a deep sleep
to you kissing my forehead
at the witching hour aphter a night of drinking
& huffing,
i ended up safe in yr arms
in yr lap,
you smoked a cigarette
never allowing the smoke in my face,
but i graciously kissed yr sweet lips
when i woke up to you
looking at me,
blowing smoke
away from my face,
as you puffed on yr
marlboro red
with fast asleep in yr lap,
on the floor by the couch
in the livingroom
of 1008 fairfield
on 06/24/1995-