I was already well acquainted with the splendors of her mouth. Smoking is good for that. You get a full display of the puckering, and the sucking. The tongue often makes an appearance, licking from the lips any stickiness imparted by the filter. Sometimes bits of paper adhere to the bottom lip and the smoker, pulling them away, reveals the candied lower teeth against the pulpy gums. And if the smoker is a blower of smoke rings, you get to see all the way in to the dark velvet of the inner cheeks.
The narrator describes an intimate familiarity with the beauty of a person's mouth, particularly through the act of smoking. This practice allows for a vivid display of facial movements, highlighting the way lips pucker and how the tongue interacts with the environment, creating a captivating visual experience. The detailing of sticky residue and the playful removal of bits of paper reflects a raw and personal connection to the subject’s physicality.
In this context, the act of smoking serves not only as a habit but also as a lens through which the narrator appreciates the intricacies of the mouth. When smoke rings are casually blown, the act enhances the intimacy by revealing the deeper, darker areas within the mouth, enriching the perception of the smoker's allure and complexity. This deep observation transcends mere appreciation, hinting at a profound allure and fascination with the sensual aspects of smoking and the person it involves.
