Extinguished
Outback; chilling winter wind
on the handicapped ramp
where we smoke at work.
Was struck by the plight
of discarded cigarette
driven wild by the gusts.
Rolling, bouncing, erratic
past the big blue dumpster
with it’s plastic corner flags.
Over the collage of black lines...
residue from the blacking of boxes
that became Halloween walls.
Brown butt in the air
it lost some of it’s cherry
hitting, spinning against the wall.
Abrupt change in direction
it went south with gusto
only to skip east once again.
Forced just to the edge
of seam in concrete pavement
rolling to the lip of deep, black hole.
Teetering, teetering, teetering
flailing like a tightrope walker
tipping, tipping...slipping.
Discarded cigarette driven
by element incomprehensible
without choice, plan or intention.
Forced into illimitable abyss
extinguishing light, assumed life
caught as the world spins on.
Author notes
Written December 24th, 2001
What did you think
Comments
1 - 8 of 8
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excellent
I loved it!
-Timothy -
Amazing how you can see so much where most would see so little...
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hey i loved this ...no doubt, excellent expression, like your style alot :) thankyou....ashley
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Very interesting way to look at a discarded ciggy butt! Your description of where you stand to smoke and watching the butt roll by reminded me of my factory working days! Excellent job!
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this rocked. I loved the way you handled the imagery, and all. Really great stuff, keep it up ;)
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i hate it when that happens... it does not make me want to quit though... the act it self makes me want to quit... is there anyway to quit...
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I never thought about a cigarette after I flipped it. Kewl.
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I'll never be able to flick a cigarette butt the same way again.
Really descriptive and visual. Great write. Thanx.
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