ON THE MEND

been croupy for 10 days
not helped by tobacco addiction
camels-luckies-menthols

growing up was always seriously
anti-smoking, nagged my mom
a passionate smoker since her early teens

yet, like all antis, i yenned
to experience the poison, finally started
in boot camp to avoid policing

the area during smoke breaks
--chose camels to honor kramer-o'grady
only pals who then puffed--

visiting the daughter to recover,
always straighten out here,
lose weight, re-connect

having absinthe with my coffee
to honor van gogh, who enjoyed
immensely his pipe, his hallucinogenics

lethal tobacco has anxiolitic
qualities and dampens appetite
big plusses in my current state

daughter suggested taking
a sick day today, no cavorting
no pool hall, no museums, no baking

just curling up with the dogs
and HBO Now, sr. avila
GoT, sex in the city

deadwood, wired, the young pope,
roommates, insecure,
deadwood, louis ck,

will report
positive outcomes
presently

copyright © 2017 by p .j. o'hayer