The Rose That Grew From The Cigarette Bud Poem by isaac gracie

The Rose
that grew from the cigarette bud
flew
from fingertips to die in mud
intoxicating
while it burned
life is now lost
lesson now learned

But wait!
twenty stems make a bouquet
the petals
bloom at the sight of a flame
beauty
erupts from each dying stick
beware
for their beauty is their fatal trick

i would that my father
had time for such things
in lieu
for my mother
i will make a thousand stems to sing.