I was born with steel lungs,
My tolerance to clouds of nicotine and carcinogens
Trained by a youth of chain-smoking parents, uncles, and aunts;
The smell of smoke and cheap cigars becoming the perfume I wore in my childhood.

I was born with an immortal liver,
Filling my stomach with bottles of cheap booze,
Drowning angry shots of fiery liquor,
Sipping glasses of inferior wine,
Hoping to get even slightly buzzed on a fifth of vodka.

I was born with an unattainable desire
To set fire to everything I ever loved,
Knowing the only place I belonged was where my ancestors were buried,
Deep within layers of addiction and suffering.