cigarette

he used to make a big
deal
out of smoking. tapping the pack
tight against his hand,
against his knee, or rail
where he stood.
pensive
and nonchalant
in a leather coat,
greased hair,
he struck the tip of a match
head against his shoe
and lit
the lucky strike up,
then blew smoke rings towards
the girls,
who almost all darted away,
like a flock of birds, but
there was always one
who didn't scare.