METRONOME FOR GOOD CONVERSATIONS
Smoking is deeply embedded within the cinematic style of Classic Hollywood, but intentionally so. It was heavily sponsored by tobacco companies who wanted their products to be associated with characters exhibiting the traits of being 'cool'. Cinematic smoking plays a role in the dialogue itself, punctuating speeches with drawn out pauses, inhales and exhalations, which in turn act like a metronome for good conversations. This collection, from a present day reality, are inspired by these films, reading like stills from this bygone era.
Smoking acts as the metronome
for good conversations
between the Bogarts and Bergmans
but the smoking habit was not mine to break
being a reluctant conversationalist
though it felt shared in a weak stomach
an extension of empathetic tendencies
till the offer expires at the length of a sleeve
being left only with the Groucho Marx quote
in response: "do you mind if i don't smoke?"
the time it took to feel the drag
was put out like a cigarette with the peck
as the embers burn we are cut loose
unfurled sleeves rolled after
the grind for the next basic
and yes
i probably did overstuff the omelette that broke
and no
i didn't shoehorn the conversation
to get a leg-up in this pissing contest
i should stay mute in this moat i made myself
with cold feet and enough anger to go around
either side of the fence breaking ground
when everything changed and then nothing did
have we reached the new homeostasis
where this is our version of always having Paris
here's looking at you, as i mature from being a, kid
