Temptation Poem by Victoria Lam

Temptation, addiction, sorrow, pain.
Darkness lifts as the light burns the tip
of my cigarette.
It folds like an envelope into the tunnel of tobacco,
whirling with the smoke that fills my chest.

For a brief moment, I am filled-
with the smoke, with satisfaction.

My breath deepens and floats from my lips, transformed into a white cloud like the ghost of my fears that tempts this darkness away,
just for a
second.
It fades into the blackness of the night,
already meaningless like the burnt paper that curls
between my fingers.

Moonlight spills into the amber of my cup,
softening the sharp poison that stings like hell
but warms my insides,
like a sweet flash of bitter love.
I'm filled with its glory,
I'm on top of the world! Time means nothing, pain is foolish and worries are but a speck in my halo as distant as the stars.
My eyes peer lovingly into the glass,
now empty,
seeking for the thick liquid relief that
faded as quick as a cold, cunning illusion.

And as the supernova explodes inside my stomach,
the ground does not catch me.
My liquid love, my ghosts transparent as smoke.
They do not lift me.

Temptation, addiction, sorrow, pain.
Reality slaps like bullets of rain.