Inconsequential loss

Just outside the door to his second floor apartment, 
He leans against the hollow black railing 
Wishing he’d already quit smoking 
But secretly relishing the ritual 
The brief reprieve and a new focus

His mind catches the wind 
In a silent sigh of exhaustion

It floats over the walkway below, 
Across the old-man-next-door’s triangular garden, 
Rustling the fig tree’s leaves 
Brushing over a stray Siamese cat’s glowing eyes 
As it lazily stalks some unwitting victim;

Lost somewhere before it reaches the white noise 
Of those hidden faces rushing under highway lights –
An amusing amount of traffic on the overpass not too far away

But he finds his smile empty, 
His thoughts circling back to what he’d rather forget

A brief respite lost 
He flicks the moment away