One Last Smoke

I was working on a scene where love had gone south, but it is the male character who is sad. Sadness is a strong emotion and I couldn't let the scene go with only the words: "She left him without a note or a goodbye". I want the reader to feel his shock, his pain, his hurt. This poem was written over a couple of days and I switched the characters around and it is the man who has walked away. This is not close to what I wrote in my WIP. It is a poem. It is shortened and, therefore, each word counts. 

© One Last Smoke

Standing in this river outside your hotel

Wondering where you are since you told me farewell;

I’ve been wishing on a star, hanging onto Jack Daniels—

He’s soothing my broken heart, stroking the shrapnel.

God’s sitting on his mountain having one last smoke,

Satan’s here beside me laughing at some joke.

I…I wish I could look into your eyes,

Know everything will be the way it should;

If you looked at me without turning away,

You…you would see tears welling in my eyes

While I make promises to God that I will be good

If He’ll just bring you back and have you stay.

And Hell’s not heaven, and I’m dying of heatstroke;

Satan’s still laughing so it must be a good joke.

Before I throw out the empty and tear up your clothes,

I’m leaving these photos…I’m not the one you chose.

Will you remember us and getting sick on avocados

Will you remember me and all my goofy fiascos?

I never told you but you’re the love of my life;

I only wish I’d never laughed when you wanted me for your wife—

I wish I hadn’t laughed and caused you such strife;

I wish I hadn’t laughed and let my words run rife.

God’s sitting on his mountain having one last smoke,

Satan’s here beside me laughing at some joke.

I…I wish I could look into your eyes,

Know everything will be the way it should;

If you looked at me without turning away,

You…you would see tears welling in my eyes

While I make promises to God that I will be good

If He’ll just bring you back and have you stay.

And Hell’s not heaven, and I’m dying of heatstroke;

Satan’s still laughing so it must be a good joke.

Mimi Wolske

All Rights Reserved

(Painting: DarkWaters by Julio Reyes)

Mimi - Mona Poetry: Good-bye and Amen!

©Good-bye and Amen!

Mimi Wolske

Mimi Wolske-Mona Arizona™

September 2014

All Rights Reserved

   

Too much complication

Too little conversation

He turned and walked away

And all she could say was

Good-bye and amen

Sitting in this broken-down room

On this tattered chair

Smoking one more cigarette

Soaked with smoke and tears

An almost-empty glass

Reminding her she really didn't drink

Reminding her of their

Not-quite-completed affair

Reminding her how she crawled

Into bed with him

Their fingertips not quite touching

Sharing the same space

Same time but never

Glancing at the clock

Reminding her she almost

Fell in love with him

Now begins the shroud weaving

Scraped knuckles and tiny bruises

Fight the loom's shuttle of Fate

Half-forgotten conversations fade

Warm nostalgia turns cold

Reminding her she's allergic to alcohol

Good-bye and Amen