i am the
        cigarette
            you once held
                  so passionately
               to your lips:

      your hands
         lit me up
       and my ember heart glowed so brightly
             as your breath surged through me,

                    only to
                 burn out and be
                      crushed under the toe
               of your shoe;

           a dirty habit you
               picked up

        too young

              despite the numerous warnings
                 my outside gave you.

                       i told you that i'd
                     probably kill you
                         and you ignored me
                           to get to know my insides
                   a little better.



         now i am a
           charred, mangled filter,

          crushed into the pavement, and

                while you've
                    fished the next one
             out of your pack,

                      i
                         still have
              your lip prints

                            staining my skin.