Smoking in the Bath (A Pantoum)

A tap drips in the dark.
There is a landslide of plates in the sink.
I think I will smoke in the bath
and read Ruth Fainlight back to front.

There is a landslide of plates in the sink,
but still I climb into the tub with my cigarette
and read Ruth Fainlight back to front.
Steam rises and steals the mirror's reflection.

But still I climb into the tub with my cigarette.
The book is water-speckled and curling at the corners.
Steam rises and steals the mirror's reflection:
I am glad of it and I laugh.

The book is water-speckled and curling at the corners,
the soap-dish makes a perfect ashtray:
I am glad of it and I laugh.
Everything appears volcanic.

The soap-dish makes a perfect ashtray,
and tilting my head I inspect a ceiling crack;
everything appears volcanic,
but it will not bring me the amnesia I want.

And tilting my head I inspect a ceiling crack.
Tomorrow I think I will smoke in the bath,
but it will not bring me the amnesia I want.
Somewhere a tap drips in the dark.