Seven months gone, by and by

Orienting myself was the most important

first step -- the only first step -- before

I started kicking the beige column on my front

porch, watching a black scuff mark

grow

grow

grow like the smoke

from my cigarette as the fire

burns

burns

burns, all these things will

disappear into the North Carolina

night with the ghosts who dance among

the wine and spirits of yesteryear.

Raleigh, NC

1-29-2012