Cigarettes and Whiskey

By Sanjita Banerjee

When you kiss me, the taste of whiskey lingers

When you caress me, the coldness of your fingers warms me

The wind rattles our minds, but together we are survivors

The song buzzing in our ears reminds me of when we were five

That seems a lifetime ago 

And now we are a blend of cigarettes and whiskey

The smoke is comforting in my lungs

The harsh smell reminds me you are real

Yet my imagination knows no bounds 

But the reality is harsh if you are but part of my illusions 

Old promises still cloud my mind

When you showed me the way of cigarettes and whiskey,

The night is not lonely in our silence

And the stars whisper if we will admire them

You wince subtly at the burn of whiskey 

But you are illuminated by the flame of a lighter

And I can't look away

Looking around us, I know we are tethered by cigarettes and whiskey

By Sanjita Banerjee