She stood on the porch
a young girl, maybe 9
holding up overhead
a handmade sign
neon pink with black lettering reading
“SMOKE EM”
This house she stood
on the porch
sits on the edge of an intersection
I thought it to be abandoned
Built so close to the road
on the edge of a hill
trucks on a rainy day
could easily end up in the kitchen
Her sign said
“Smoke Em”
I drive by wanting to say to her
“ excuse me, what the hell is that?”
Cigarettes, Cigars, Vape.. what?
I pass by in my car like all the others
her dad is out on the porch
her brother in a bouncy trainer
Photo by Alex Holyoake on Unsplash
The next day she is back
A new sign
“ Light Em UP”
determined not to give up
I’m thinking
Rip my wheels, rev the engine?
I pass again
This now starts to simmer in my thoughts
later that night
Yes, Get it.. she is saying…rip my tires
That child is bored
She wants to see tires smoke
What an artist!
How powerful
I drive back that night
My headlights hit the house
the porch is empty
her sign on the old rotting chair
out front
lights inside are lit
I wanted to peal my wheels right then
“Smoke Em”
Drive away seeing her cute little face in the window
I wonder where will she end up in life
that corner child
controlling fossil fuel engines so young
controlling people
other kids are lost in their cell phones
she is on the porch directing life