Two brothers

We sit together

Two brothers

Rough wall at our backs

Air filled with sound

Engines, gears, tyres, brakes

Taste

Exhaust, diesel, rubber

Feet hustling

Soles, hard and soft

Trousers, ankles, calves

Hems of coats

Shining asphalt

Pools of sodium

Concrete doorway

Aching, draw my knees up

Jeans torn and shiny, stained

Beside me, legs outstretched

Stares at ankles, crossed

Brogues, cracked and found

Passes jug

Fumbling, I accept

Hand beneath the base

Fingers through the loop

Rest on forearm

Glass taps teeth

Drink flowing over tongue

Swallow breathe and swallow

Wipe mouth on hand

Fumes in nose

In head

Hand it back

                Hey

                What

                Got a smoke

                Somewhere

Try pocket

Screwed up rag

Two pens, one blue one black

Other pocket

Carton, squashed

Draw it out

Open with one hand

Brown filters, one… five

First bent, torn

Should I

No

Second bent, smokable

Hand it over

                Got a light

Jacket pocket

Under carton

No

                Just a minute

Left jeans

Key to someone’s flat

Lean away

Right pocket

Plastic lighter, warm

Pass it over

                Thanks

It flares

Eyes moist and red

                Real Madrid

                I found it

                Where

Passes cigarette

I take it

                Nowhere

Draw in smoke

Tip flares, alive

Hold in lungs

Hold, hold

Plume slow from nostrils

Hand it back

Keep hand out, beckon

                What

                Lighter

Grips smoke between lips

Pats pockets

                Don’t know, man

Beckoning

                Why so materialistic

                Forget it

                Hold on

                Forget it

Cars faster now

Scooters, motorcycles

Fewer shoes passing

Buses blasting air and noise

Street settles to its flow

Jug held out

                Thanks

                You ok

                I’m ok

                You sure

                I’m sure

Tap teeth again

                Shit

                Someplace to crash

                Nope

                How about here

                You kidding        

Damn this jug