Cigarette Butts

A dark, atmospheric poem comparing the act of smoking to torture.

Cigarette Butts
Michele Proby

Cigarette butts are now my fascination
it’s the irreversible effect,
life then death
a bit like torture
it goes on, then it goes out
but it cannot be forgotten
the change is irreversible.
I like the way they are pushed, shoved,
squashed into little holes
forced into funny positions
forgotten about straight away.

Cigarette butts are now my fascination
it’s the irreversible effect,
light on, light out
like a light to heaven glowing
crying out to be seen
but no
its used and abused
like one train of thought,
choked on daily
sucking the life out of it.
I like the way the foot drags
upon the stone floor
putting the butt out with no, no effort
like torture it goes on, then it goes out
but it cannot be forgotten.