Eternity
Eternity
by mary ferrari
for Kenneth Koch
at the end of every cigarette that burns there is of course
a soft little bright light which means
hope! eternity! so you are not
killing yourself when you
smoke you are preparing for
heaven where the loving lavender
cigarette angels have soft ash wings
or for hell where a flaming cigarette forest makes
a marvelous explosion in which at least you are involved!
Being a smoker, I simply want to believe this poem. Furthermore, I am reminded of this quip by david berman,
“i reached under the bed for my menthols / and she asked if i ever thought of cancer. yes, i said, but always as a tree way up ahead / in the distance where it doesn’t matter”