He stood –
hunched over himself,
at the corner,
haphazardly
on two streets.
like a streetlight-
steaming,
Mingling with no one,
except…
for his cigarette.
Fascinated-
One might have said
that that four-inch-roll
of sweet tobacco
knew him better
than anyone in the world.
And when he held it,
onlookers,
grew jealous,
desperate
for just a moment
between his fingers,
closer,
than anyone had ever been-
solidarity
their agreement: coherent.
as the cigarette
suffocates,
osculates,
the man
puffs away
his secrets,
guiltless indulgence,
friendship,
and without a second thought-
toss.
Forum Literary Magazine 