Friday, March 3, 2023

Gaspy the Smoking Clown By Jon Bennett


Her legs and arms stick out 

like on an engorged tick

nose a blossoming rose

playing slots, 9:45 a.m.

glass of wine, cigarette

long and white as new chalk

I miss cigarettes

wish I could inhabit her body 

abandon to vice

but I finally quit 

at age 26

as well as 37, 45, 48 and 51

A smoker is a soldier

doing war with fate

and I’m a deserter

She hits a bonus

but no shriek of joy

just another sip, click of the lighter

a veteran gambler

disappointed to win

having expected to lose 

for so long.






Jon Bennett writes and plays music in San Francisco.

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