Shelly Reed
Smoke

When I imagine
seeing you again,
I imagine a smoke in hand,

even though
I never smoked,
I still understand
that perfect distance

I need that tiny,
poison fire,
to hold between us,
to give a reason to pause,
so that I may hide you
with my dark breath

When I imagine
seeing you again,
I imagine a drink in hand,
So that I might numb
the coming of your words,
so that I might
have the courage
to expel mine

I would rotate the glass, just so,
to cause a soft collision of ice,
to incite a distraction,
so that I might hold back the tears