My Brothers Smoke Cigarettes
   
   by Chris Dietz


My brothers smoke cigarettes
in private styles they employ
ceremonial designs & quirky elaborations
with each cig, how it’s reached for
lit, inhaled, knocked out

            Randy’s fingers like to giggle
            his cigarette a magic stick
            to toast each finger
            acts a puppet
            twitches child delight
            and he puffs in pops
            enjoys the smoke
            his hands walk up

     Vance’s cigarette is his last
     before the firing squad 
     like bellows, he shudders as he smokes
     spits tobacco shreds
     harps on the tiny fire’s demise