I smoke my dead cigarette
in too much haste.
Cigarettes should be smoked in slow motion
next to the mirror, as we zoom in on just one of our faces.
As it is, in the house, reflections are only found on shards. Floating faces
between us and us, letters from words. Expectant faces
watching each other from afar. And no smoke can puff them off.
That’s probably why: I’ve never learnt to light a cigarette
because it’s utterly unnecessary to learn how to learn to light
a cigarette. In the house where you smoked,
each cigarette was a letter. Each time the filter touched
your lips I asked: what’s your name? On the surface
of the mirror, your vagueness answered me back
till we both drowned in oblivion.
That’s probably why: I try lighting up a cigarette. I put it out before
it reaches my lips.
This is a cold place. The mouth opens
sluggishly, rounded in bewilderment.