Smokers Poem by Don Tiedemann

they are
the margin notes of city life
details optional to any story

they are
the dragon guardians of back porch beer kegs
fiercely discharging smoke thru pursed lips

they lean
in garage doorways
reading folded papers

they sit
on the office building stairs
next to melting snow

pulling unbuttoned sweaters tight
discussing whatever a lit match
might stimulate

they worry
and sometimes even talk
about their weight, children, sex life...

and then
dismiss it all in the brief cease-fire
life will honor with smoke-filled lungs

they are
luckless front porch anglers
fishing with no worms and no hopes