rummage through the pockets of your worn out jeans
for the lighter that you don’t think you can live without.

open the new pack
that cost you six dollars plus tax
and put the burning flame
to that first cigarette.

inhale,
exhale.

feel the smoke fill your lungs,
bask in the toxins gradually making a home in your
bloodstream.

repeat the deadly cycle,
slowly.

make that one cigarette
last.

and when you can’t take anymore
poison, don’t stop,
instead, taunt death.

pull out cigarette number two.

three, four,
until you lose count, and soon the pack is empty.

feed your nicotine fix
at least for an hour or two.

repeat.
repeat.

until your lungs can no longer take it,
until they reach the breaking point, and give in
to the power of the lighter
that will one day kill you.

repeat.