it has been one whole month
since i have smoked a cigarette
a habit i have held to
longer than most others in my life
a relationship i have maintained
longer than any lover
an escape
a comfort

our years long courtship
spent burning brightly
even in darkest night
would have to burn out eventually
a love letter
written on kindling

for me cigarettes were not unlike
your love
spark
flame
burning embers
tossed out the window of a moving car
just before you hit the filter

i'm only in this all
for the long haul
the early morning quiet
the rotations of the day
carrying me far and wide
and a love like
a cigarette's
will cause as much cancer as
smoking one