have we met before? | poem

poetry

have we met before?

they would sometimes ask me this.

usually at house parties full of half-naked men

waif women dressed in black, eyes encased by mascara

lips a cherry red.

-

city types with corporate aspirations

they would sit with their fine wine and posture

cross-legged on chairs

or sofa

or wooden floorboards

and light a smoke they then held

at chin height.

th…