the cherry of your cigarette

To the men of thorns

malnourished egos and

hot swagger

To the ladies yet unbroken

hiccupping up stars and

kisses soaked in gasoline

Fill the cocksure gaps 

in your teeth with firelight,

cough out the smoke as

it tears you apart

Let the embers choke out

the cherry of your cigarette

and whatever else is left of you

if anything at all

About the Author

Jocelyn Royal is a senior Biology major with a minor in Creative Writing, and they have never been happier than to get to partake in this creative endeavor. They've previously been published in Quiddity, Phantasm, and The Machine Mag, and they're hopeful that they'll be able to continue writing even after they graduate.