a regular prograde moon but less than ten planetary radii

~ a regular prograde moon but less than ten planetary radii ~

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packing cigarettes she leans in
cracked tilings cemented together

pinot grigio-no merlot-chilled grigio
water beads drip...i notice...i stop one

a bead of water bleeds over my fingertip
i put it in my mouth...me and the bead

ivy sanctioned metal chairs scrape
the hardwood needs paint, it creaks

designs echo like the darners needle
pink/red line and cellophane

pink/red line and cellophane
pink/red line and cellophane

cigarette smokes, cigarette smoke
the cigarette, the smoke, her lips are moving

i take the cigarette, there's a brand, branded
sticks, i remember rings and designs, cancer...sticks

i remember the first considerations, the filling
of lungs, their angst and horror, blowing billows...designs

four candles line the alley, five candles line the porch
a neighbor puts a ten year younger wife into a limo

there's a fan, there's a fan on the porch, the
child speaks up - a fan on the porch, turn on the porch fan

hearty nighttime flowers - no bee - smart buds
scents and smells...cigarette smokes...it smokes

i'm here, i'm here, i'm here
i'm over here, here, look over here

talky talk, talky talk, talky talk
who, why, when, where, how long

he is 28, he doesn't take me out, he works motors
he is Romanian, he loves to touch my mouth

bats dodge the lamplights
she's thinking of her next question

i left sitting down, i'm weary
she doesn't notice, these chairs are heavy

the pink/red cellophane blows
into her garden...the child runs...she grabs it

she says its late...she hands the cellophane to her
here she says - throw this away

the child shakes the wine bottle, it's empty
let's go...even the bats have gone home.

volvoesque humming over torn leather, gusts of air
blowing, the child says it was a good visit.

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(copyright © donna l. Quesinberry-2008)