Notification Poem by Alessandra Liverani

How are you notified everyday of your life
That a cigarette must be smoked right now
What kind of signal is passed to your brain
Exactly what is transmitted and how?

Does a ghost appear deathly white in your vision
And intone a sepulchral chant?
Or does a messenger on foot arrive at your doorstep
And relate the message in between pants

Does a head suddenly appear around the corner
And shout out at you the word 'Boo'
Or does someone discreetly wink in the corner
That you alone know is your cue

This message unseen by the rest of us people
Is being received by you loud and clear
Can this signal at all be intercepted
So that it will only fall on deaf ears?