she stood under the awning
of her first-floor balcony
cherry lips
and vanilla skin
******* one of your smoke rings
she said

i hear there are subtle flavors
lawn grass and different woods
chocolate, maybe
i want the smoke in my lungs
and my heart to pump the
nicotine high through my bloodstream
i want the tingles and the buzz
they all talk about
i want to know
the taste of your mouth

he only laughed
then let her know about
broken time in the rain-dewed grass
and cigarette ash
on the white wood patio
unfiltered disappointment
from his cancer stick
lingering in her shiny new hair