Cigarettes

I know they're bad for me
But I can't resist
They're my escape from reality
My coping assist

I light and inhale
The smoke fills my chest
And I feel a rush of relief
A moment of rest
A break from the mess

I exhale and watch
The smoke drifts in the air
Like my worries and fears
Like my dreams and prayers
Like my life and years

I know they're killing me
But I don't mind
They're my only friends
My loyal kind

I finish and toss it
The butt lands on the floor
And I see a pile of waste
A sign of my core
A mark of my score

I know they're not worth it
But I can't quit
They're my identity
My generation's fit
My cigarettes