Light Me Like A Cigarette
Joseph Blythe
Light me like a cigarette, burn me down.
Push me in the sandy dirt, grind me out.
Bury me by the sea, underground,
cremated and consecrated by grains of glass.
Light me like a cigarette, drain my soul.
Watch it dissipate in exhaling smoke,
feel its essence crawling down your throat
when we kiss: faded lips and a Marlboro.
Light me like a cigarette then drain your glass.
Entangle your fingers and take a drag.
Turn me to embers in the wind,
make me ash dashed on the sand.
Light me like a cigarette, smoke the blame.
Let ocean spray and drowning rain kill the flame.
Strike the lighter, sparks fly and burn away
the smoke and mirrors and the love that hates,
Joseph Blythe is a writer from the north of England. His short stories have been published by Stand Magazine, Grist Books and Bitterleaf Books, while his poetry has been printed by Grist Books, Swim Press, Livina Press, Ink & Marrow. His work has been longlisted by Butcher’s Dog and Northern Gravy. Currently, he is working on a pre-apocalyptic eco-novel and a fantasy novel, alongside a short story collection and a poetry collection. He holds an undergraduate degree in English Literature with Creative Writing and a Master's in Creative Writing. He tweets and Instagrams @wooperark.