Noir
By Sinead Ballagh

Sitting
on a Sunday afternoon
watching smoke
lift from the tip of a cigarette

Nothing left,
only smoke,
rain
and loneliness.

“I’ll sing you a song
of a sad afternoon.”

What is past is
over and
what is left?
Only smoke,
and rain
and loneliness.

— Sinead Ballagh is a Lawrence native and a graduate student in the science of library and information management program at Emporia State University. Poet’s Showcase features work by area poets. Submit your poetry via e-mail with a subject line of Poet’s Showcase to mpaget@ljworld.com or send typewritten (not handwritten) submissions to Mindie Paget, 645 N.H., Lawrence 66044, attn: Poet’s Showcase. Teen writers should submit their work to the 18 & Under page at teens@ljworld.com.