smoke

i inhale you
in my chest
i feel you

you occupy
every available
space there is

i hold my breath
as time stands still
i try not to let go

i do not want to let go
i want to savor every
square inch of your taste

then i imagine the color
and the shape
of my infected air sacs

but then i know
i must exhale
for i cannot keep you forever

in my chest
in my lungs
in my system

but i do want to taste you again
so i light another stick
for good measure

and agree to your offer
to hold my breath
for as long as i can

until it is time to exorcise
the smoke of your ghost
from my black cancer soul