i could smell

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-