How to Start Smoking Cigarettes: A Poetry Collection

Part of growing up is realizing that you have no idea what you're doing, so then you just do SOMETHING...... Like smoke cigarettes. That's what I did, at least. As an act of controlling what I can control, and doing something only an adult can (legally) do, I smoked cigarettes. That's what this book is about, at it's core: controlling what you can control and finding yourself in the process. Poetry, for me, is perceiving the world, taking it in, and then giving it back in a way that is more digestible. This will sometimes lead to narrative poetry, other times a beatific regurgitation, but it is all sincere and honest. The only promise I will give you is that this book will bring you postmodern poetry like you've never experienced before. As the writer of these poems, I can only hope that it brings you some value.

All of these poems were written by a young man in his early twenties who is navigating through love, identity, and isolation. The narrative poetry section of this book focuses on each of those respective themes. In addition to that, you will also find "On August 10th, 2022, at 3 AM, I Cried" which was published in "Beautiful Poetry (Volume 25)", as well as a surprise section of poems at the end.