i bleed the sweet aroma of a hand-rolled 10 year old cigar
smoked alongside
the 70 yr. old delight of the master
of the hidden tuck,
the trinket lost,
the lifted skirt
i inhaled
to the capricious amusement
of
ghosts
and red velvet elvis paintings
and
the subtle hand of a god
we are only vaguely familiar with
draped in turquoise and crimson.
yield
to the demons
open--inhale
to honeyed redemption
sweet.
open.
redemption.