i was just sitting on the porch
& thinking how maybe
i should take up smoking
how the world
might appreciate me so much more
if i had a vice
if Death were perched
a little more obviously on my shoulder
some shrouded & sadistic parrot
echoing the words i write
as if every one
might be the last
then i'd be a fitting tragedy
to listen to
the world sees no art
in just living
-