Cigarettes

A Poem by Joe Gibson

Cigarettes

Bullets lined her teeth
sheltering her intentions
a tongue tied to a grenade pin
waiting to blow me
metaphorically ,of course
if looks could kill
I'd be a dead man walking

I want you
in the most unromantic way
for your perfect flaws
like red ink on a test
in the shapes of checks
and addition signs

your voice echos
through my head
with what little words
you've ever spoken to me
but I'm not your type
and you're not mine
but opposites attract
yet
I feel pushed away

I know violets are violet
and roses are rose
but you're worth more than air
so please be my air
and fill me
with life
because darling
you fill me with life