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Palaver Arts Magazine

Smoke Trail

ByRegina Duran April 20, 2026

I dream of blackened lungs your overpowering tobacco scent grandma’s flowery fabric softener your snowy mustache tickling my cheek tired rough hands ruffling my hair callouses older than me your booming belly laughs and frustrated huffs your team Go Chivas! never won still you cheered I remember the smile that reached your melted eyes similar—no just like mine late night visit to you red and blue lights firefighters pat my back, why? heads hung low I see it—you a body bag in the middle of the room. I still smell your cigarette smoke everywhere I go . . .

Regina Duran is a junior majoring in Narrative Studies. Regina is interested in capturing memory and reckoning with difficult themes through poetry. Her poems were recently published in The Goby Review’s first issue and Trojan Bloom’s upcoming Spring 2026 issue.