She would inhale,
filling her lungs
with potent smoke
and her head
with potent thoughts.
She would exhale
and her face
would do this thing
as if deep down
it knew that the world
was inherently good.
As she exhaled,
her face showed innocence.
Through the cloud of smoke,
her face shone through
looking like the face
of a harmless child.
When she inhaled again,
her aged face would show
worry, pain-
and hopelessness.
But only for a moment
until it was exhaled
into a puff of smoke.