Steeping Smoke

Get the kettle out

Steep cups of tea

That taste like a bonfire

All the heavy weight of logs

In a mug

The white heat gone

Out of the flames

A vegetal liquor and

Flickering shadows 

Remain

Swirled around

Settling with the leaves

At the bottom

To be ground between

Teeth when the last dregs

Are swallowed

The essence of fire

Cooled and

Consumed

Not by the flick

Of a lighter

But by a mouth

And greyed-out mind

Smoke out your nostrils 

As you exhale