Clark Gormley #62 Cigarette packaging

having selected

electric phlegm

from the colour chart

a palpable iridescence

with a fore-palate of

filthy dishwater

hints of black bile

infusion of sputum

aftertaste of festering pus

washed down with an

electric catarrh Solo

and overwriting in

ultra-legible font

words that might as well

say “you dumb fuck”

they decided let’s find

the most repulsive

cancer or gangrene

based on popular opinion

oh, to be a fly in the ashtray

at those focus group meetings!

did they cease their quest

only when 100%

of respondents gagged?

did they hand out buckets?

or did they simply

seek out and employ

the worst marketer

in the world?