[ p o e t r y 2]

I miss the smell
Of 30 years of stale cigarettes 
Smoked in a two car, concrete wall garage.
I miss holding my breath
As I walked in
Knowing I'd choke on the smoke.
Nowadays, I catch a whiff
Of a cigarette being smoked,
By some kid at the park,
By my boyfriends aunt in her garage,
By the men who work on the neighbors house.
And I realize how badly
I miss the smell of you
And your smoke filled garage.
I spent most of my visits
Trying to ignore the smell,
But nowadays,
I look around when I catch a whiff
Trying to figure out
If it's the same brand you smoked.
I think you smoked Marlboros.
They smell the most like you.
I hate the cigarettes,
But I do wish I had paid more attention.
Now, I can only catch you
In fleeting wisps of whiffs.

07/08/24