Contributor: James Ashton Fiddlestone

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A smoke
a cup of coffee
something to cast the blizzard out
to warm the bones
to bring heat
into ragged fingers
for one
succulent
moment

We work the streets
we laugh, we share
what little we have
because half a cigarette
or a pinch of the good stuff
buys a story and a smile
when you need it most

and you need it most
in the winter.


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The poetry of JAF has been featured in such street-zines as Cannery Retrograde, Stabat Pater and Zenmerica Plus.