| 
             New 
              Orleans Poem  
            Brenda 
              Harrison Bell 
             
             afterwards, 
              lying in the dark, 
              with the ashtray on her stomach, 
              she watched him 
              fumble 
              to put out the cigarette 
              with only the ember for light  
             and 
              thought 
              how too casual a touch 
              can lead to 
              burning  
            
            The 
              2River View, 1_2 (Winter 1997)
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