discarded cigarettes and second hand smoke

my lungs whimper and my chest tightens

as my world burns a slow burn

smoldering

embers escaping in puffs of light

I never asked for a night light, said the hills

as they illuminate our faces twisted in despair

I dive into the ocean, willful

disbelief suspends both body and mind

and the moon has hidden itself among the

undetermind low hanging gray

be it fog or smoke, there is no white

just faint orange glow and a drizzling of ash

day and night blend, the bird songs all jumbled 

gracefully, we go,

descending as the winter rain.

in waves we wash away the pangs of thirst,

in days, gray blanket embraces the bay,

and at night, soft serenade,

a lullaby.