Draw in the Smoke

Phi Kappa Phi Forum, Summer 2002 by Kneller, Andrey

". . . and gaze at the reflection in the mirror, As streetlights gaze at drying puddles . . ."

Joseph Brodsky

Draw in the smoke and with the motion of a finger, shake off the lazy fireflies, which often linger to burn to ash. Cold bathroom lights reveal your flaws, the bald spot in your hair, the crooked nose ...

Breathe out the smoke, and nothing's to be seen, except the rows of plastic bottles, - blue and green colognes and creams and other useless stuff,

which you still use in hopes of luring in true love. The smoky mirror hides your grim reflection, and now, none of your flaws remain . ..

Thus streetlights watch with warm affection the puddles blurred by drops of rain.

ANDREY KNELLER

Born in Moscow, Russia, Andrey Kneller was highly influenced by Russian literature and culture. He first began to write poetry when he was just thirteen years old and since then has written more than 350 poems. Fluent in both English and Russian, Andrey also has translated poetry by Alexander Pushkin, Boris Pasternak, Vladimir Vysotsky, and other Russian poets. He attends Brandeis University, and his email is kneller@brandeis.edu.