Cigarette butts in the hospital parking lot
cigarette butts
in the hospital parking lot
how many of them were smoked furiously
with prayers
the way I just smoked
begging God
exhausted
and in terror, all squished out now
in the cement
with the others
____________
Marla’s Pall Malls
she used to sit on her bed
with a pack of Pall Malls on a TV tray
and go outside in an old teeshirt and short shorts to smoke
she’d wince at me and say
When are you gonna shave that shit off your face?
You’re such a handsome boy Danny
and I’d rub my face
and feel ugly and beautiful
at the same time
Rusty Truck 