one last time she says lighting the only marlboro in the pack with an experienced flourish
her lips contact the filter as she takes one more puff and discards the butt

it surely makes sense to give it up
less costly
more convenient
sharper sensation in nerve endings
better smile
stronger

smarter
fasterbetterlookinghappier

but as I watch the stick marked by the mouth burn itself to ash and smoke
with no way to receive even one last touch
my empathy falls with the drug

01/01/2006

Author's Note: Inaminate objects don't like it when we anthropomorphize them. And this pretty much sucks but it's something I needed to put to words.

Posted on 01/04/2006
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