I am a cigarette.

You suck and steal my fire, my smolder... Until I am waste in your ashtray.

I kiss the plastic in your car — the glass bowl on your nightstand, the soul of your goddamned shoe!

I give you your fix until you've reduced me to dust, with the better of the population.

I am your social excuse, your topic for water-cooler gossip,

I sizzle where you are dormant, thirsty to thrive on the misery of my ashes.

People like you, those who inhale — those who take — you suck the life from me.

I am too drained and exhausted to try and keep up with your naivety, your high school-influenced propaganda...

Eventually, you'll run out of my wisps, and I'll be nothing but soot on cement.