Monday, July 21, 2014

How to smoke a pipe

This is for the novice:
first there is the flame

any will do in most
circumstances, a heat

that when applied
chars the superficial

into a black cake. Find
that any fresh

leaf will make the burn
uneven. You may pay

attention to the first
puffs, on the second

light, and in consequence
the pipe will sputter,

and when you then pull
softly, the ember

will dwindle. It is a task
where there is no respite,

and so resign, look nowhere
until vision clouds

the sea or the oak or book-
shelves, and prepare

to pack; stay some
time longer,

though, inhale
the blur and release

again, and see how steadily
it burns.

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