He wondered
if it was the
alcohol in his system
or the symptom of
an alcoholic

as he lied there
and relit his
cigarette
after it was knocked out of his hand
and burnt a hole in his chest

--I think he drank
so much
he drowned his
brain.


She left
She left
she left

She asked,
Well,
what makes you feel alive?

and I responded,
simply:
the things that bring me closer
to death,
of course.