I caught the tail of cigarette
In the parting peal of breath.
And even as he walked away
The shame washed all the words away.
I've written scads of nonsense, hence-
A futile need to recompense.
But all of this means nothing now
And nothing lends to reason how-
He may have strode those parting steps
To leave when there was nothing left.
But my words fed the final blow
The nail to coffin down below.