- Just another Cigarette -

Piping hot coffee in a

beautiful cup, that has a

gold ring around its  Lip,

matching saucer also with

a gold ring around its

border,

An ornate ashtray waiting

to be filled with death,

Dust to dust. Ashes to

Ashes, crosses my mind,

A brand new pack of

cigarettes, with the brand

name in bold appealing

letters, tightly wrapped in

cellophane to preserve its

freshness,

A gold ribbon waiting to be

unfurled, so as to release

the enemy who brings

pleasure, but also death

from within.

Cole Trane playing softly

on a CD, memories of a

dear friend come flooding

in,

Memories of all nighters

discussing poetry,

philosophy, culture and

politics,

Gone are the nights of

Blues club hoping on 125th,

of smoke filled room and

aged Cabernets,

Of summer's day playing

Chess in central park, and

Aunt Mae’s place to play

some spades,

I recall so many things, but

most of all the thing that

sticks, is the alcohol and

cigarettes,

The cancer and emphysema

did him in, slowly and most

assuredly.

The last words I remember

he said in the hospital.

while clinging to life on an

iron lung,

Please!

Just another cigarette