---

 

This writing was accepted for publication in the 108-page perfect-bound ISSN#/ISBN# issue/paperback book “Moving Forward” cc&d, v329 (the January 2023 issue) Order the 6"x9" paperback book:

Order this writing in the book a Mural of a Forest the cc&d Jan.-April 2023 magazine issues collection book		get the 426 page Jan.-April 2023 cc&d magazine 6" x 9" ISBN# perfect-bound paperback book:

Order this writing in the book On Stones and Bones the 2023 poetry & art collection anthology		get the 182 page poetry & artwork & photography collection anthology as a 6" x 9" ISBN# paperback book:

Cigarette park

Appadoo Leyanah

Inhaling that pervasive stench,
I squeezed that cigarette between my fingers,
Like a murderer strangling a soul
Incongruous I was,
So I thought, ensconced in the smoke
How cruel the world was, I wondered
The tulips next to me swore,
And the birds overhead cursed
The trees braced for battle,
Cause one is a pine tree and the other an oak,
As preposterous as it might seem,
I watched them fight,
And even took pleasure in doing so
The cigarette was my popcorn to the show,
Helped me understand why we hated each other,
Not because we were different,
But because we were scared to love,
Terrified at the prevalence of being left out,
Left out when all the
Tenderness, warmth, fondness is over
When all the adoration, trust, passion, intimacy is over
When the attachment is over
When love is over
Hatred is our refuge to the cruelty of the world outside,
Or at least for me, it is
The oak tree was on for a killer move,
Moving hysterically,
Nerve-wracking and heart-throbbing,
About to gain the upper hand when,
Stolidly, that old wretched woman sat next to me
Out of all the benches in the park, she’s got only mine?
One of a kind nuisance she was,
Coughing her soul out
I let go the cigarette from my hand,
Watching it fall,
As Peter watched Gwen Stacy fall,
In the slowest of motions,
Teary-eyed, hopeful and helpless
As it hit the ground,
I got up, tipped my hat to the nasty woman
And crushed the cigarette with the sole of my shoe.

Copyright of written pieces remain with the author, who has allowed it to be shown through Scars Publications and Design.Web site © Scars Publications and Design. All rights reserved. No material may be reprinted without express permission from the author.

Problems with this page? Then deal with it...