cigarette

cigarrette

it suffocates me
from
the
start
of
my
breath—

hacking

like a smoker
far too strung
in their habits of killing themselves
my mind betrays itself
as the panic
thunders
and the world
plunders
and my throat
clenches
my heart
breaking
my stomach burns
the cigarette
is half done
a fire
a heat
no water can put out
no flood can drown
the embers move
down the drug
smoke fills
my putrid lungs
time passes
life flashes
you try to salvage what’s left
to find only ashes—
empty
remains
of a battle once fought
and lost
but even they
have weight
on a scale
tipping over
almost there
almost
there

these ashes
subtly approach
and place themselves
uninvited
upon the half
ready to give
they shift the weight
one side
             to the other
             to save the lives
             of other smokers
             before the drug
             ruins others


it turns out


the tears of a victim


was the key to quench


this addiction