Emphysema
Matt Rhodes

grandma told me she’s gonna die soon

told me she don’t know where it came from

then she lit another GPC 100

            now remembering the time dad told me

            about the hospital at Ohio State when

            a lady was in an oxygen tent and she

            had her sister bring cigarettes:

                 she lit one,

                 KABOOM!

                                    bacon...

she sat back with a transparent smile

she coughed and told me it was OK

she said the world was wearing

            a distinguished and ominous grin

she leaned forward with etched glass fingers

her brassy whisper enveloped me

I extended a baffled hand and coyly asked her,

could I bum a cigarette?