Nicotine Air

See the black between my teeth
yellow stains on the ends of my fingers
the smell of smoke in my hair
yeah, I was there
born to breathe Mama and Daddy’s
nicotine air

A shirtless southern child my
Daddy like his Daddy drove the back roads
fixin’ tobacco-weighing scales
yeah, I was there
muddy baby girl playin’ in the ditch in
nicotine air

Green fields far as you could see
golden leaves hangin’ high in the rafters
drying sweet in hot humidity
harvest meant
big checks paid a whole year’s rent in
nicotine air

I light up like a lightnin’ bug in a jar
one tiny air hole in the lid
one tiny
air hole
in the lid

**

Sue is Chocolate: A Eulogy

—in memory of Susan Fazekas Sardi

Sue is chocolate
dense intellectual
strong and sweet
down to the pretty toes
on her luau feet
a Key West girl
with a New York state of mind
every day a novelty
a party opportunity
Sue is chocolate
for all time

Sue is chocolate
smooth and soft-centered
a dog person, a cat person
even a rat person
a maven
a 24-hour haven
for all things girls
an old soul she
of books, Broadway and tea
the best of the light and dark
Sue is chocolate
Sue is heart

Sue is chocolate
the silly the serious the stuff
an island of courage
steaming bright music
to the rhythm of the storm
when her silent wings rage
reduced to words on a page
a lovingly wrapped wish
in a tropical dress
Sue is chocolate
fare well rest

**

He Cooks

Pernell is spice
sprinkled on a day
and the flavor he sings
can be heard a long way
he cooks

Pernell is citrus
sour sweet clear
the lime in the neck
of a Mexican beer
he cooks

Pernell is garlic
in a fresh salad toss
the soul magician of
tart barbecue sauce
he cooks

Pernell is salt
sweet potatoes and cream
sizzling pepper steak
and boiled collard greens
he cooks

Pernell is the sugar
in bacon and beans
red-eye gravy on toast
and pecan pie dreams
he cooks

Throw in cinnamon
crush the cloves
Pernell will be the boss
of many stainless stoves
he cooks

Pernell is warm
poet gingerbread man
a smile is his face
catch him if you can
he cooks