Blaze of Glory

A Moral Tale

Having been told from earliest rolling that its ultimate purpose was to be transformed through the inspiration of holy fire, a Cigarette waited eagerly for this fulfilment of its existence. All through the long cramped darkness when it was packed in a box with very little personal space, the Cigarette held fast to its faith, despite the mutterings of sceptics who perpetrated evil rumours about ashtrays and pavements.

At last the box was opened, and all its occupants thrilled to feel their filters touched with the air of the outside world; and one by one each of them was chosen and ascended to its destiny. Exulting, the Cigarette found itself lifted and lit with the sacred flame; but its transfiguration into carcinogenic resin was prematurely curtailed when it found itself stubbed out on the eyeball of a political undesirable.