How To Smoke a Cigarette

(First, ignore the warnings.
Warnings are boring,
and only for the weak.)

The tan-coloured end,
the pale-flecked butt,
goes between your lips,

and not the open-ended
white paper tip, with
the leaves packed tight;

hold it out straight
in your pursed mouth,
and don't bother looking,

or your eyes will cross.
Spin the lighter's wheel
with the pad of your thumb

and push on down,
make the flame flick!
Hold the blue-gold fire

to the end of it;
suck its heat
towards you, ignite

the tip. It will glow
orange, pull it.
Try not to choke,

suppress your cough.
Draw in the smoke.
If your head spins

then continue;
don't worry. You
will get accustomed.

You will get to like it.
Light it up,
draw it back.

Blow it out.
Blue-grey smoke,
in and out your lungs.

As the ashes grow,
crinkly grey columns,
tap them off;

disregard them.
Smoke down to the butt,
then stub the ember out.

(Coffin's nails,
they say? Hey,
you're gonna die, anyway.)

Now, you're finished!
Go back
to the beginning,

start again;
don't fight it,
ignite it;


make it a habit.