TOBACCO LEAVES 



Thy light the only star a-gleaming ? 



Dost thou forget 



How, sans regret, 



And, fickle as thy clouds which hover 



Within this room of loveless gloom, 



Her heart turned toward the richer lover? 



IV. 



Ah, cigarette! 



Thou trusted pet! 



We'll not confess how, at her scorning 



(With Bab and Bess 



And Blanche and Jess) 



Our broken heart went into mourning. 



Nor shall we say 



How, in a way, 



Love, unrequited, fuming, fretting, 



Though seldom cured, 



Can be endured 



Through other girls and cigaretting. 



JOE KERB. 



89 



