The imperative cigarette case

Loving greetings from the grave, I’m dead
you’re not, let’s try to keep it just like that
Pull a memory for me, when I sent you that machine
That contraption of a box made for rolling cigarettes
Lovely thing, so clever; lick a paper, add the baccy
and then snap! Out it pops, one fully made

You remember why I sent it? Yep
You were taking lessons on a bike
I knew lots of riders from the ward. Nice boys,
I helped one of them to eat, got another one to walk
Yes I know boys all like their toys, but what’s wrong
with a piano? Do a skydive if you must

As you knew I’d make a fuss when you started
out again; didn’t last so long though, did it?
Got knocked off — that’s your luck. Chalk it up
as your free life. Take your winnings
be a love, if you choose between machines
then choose this; it’ll take more time to kill you