The Smoker's Lament (Negative Imagery)

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Poetry Workshop

The Smoker's Lament (Negative Imagery)

Bridget Shenachie
Senior Member

since 2002-01-23

Posts 1056
Kansas USA

0 posted 2006-05-15 11:35 PM

The Smoker’s Lament

Gone are the days
When the best way to get food served quickly
In the finest restaurants
Was to light up
And immediately the waiter, brightly beaming,
Carried the plates all deliciously steaming
To your table,
While you politely snuffed
The newly lit cigarette in the ashtray provided
For the welcomed smoker.
The tables have turned and
This once petty irritation
That guaranteed
Prompt food service
Will get you arrested.

Gone are the days
When the most interesting people
Were fellow smokers.
The most stimulating conversations
Were punctuated by a drag on your cigarette
And a sip from your glass of wine.
Looking about, life was really fine,
Viewed through the smoky haze
That further softened the features
Of kindly, kindred spirits
Philosophizing the meaning of life
And all that is important.
These people
Are no longer
Welcome.

riet
Junior Member

since 2006-05-12

Posts 19
Australia

1 posted 2006-06-10 02:20 AM

Having been a smoker I can relate to this poem. Also now I am happy to be a non smoker, for smoking was the hardest thing to give up for me. But yes it was easy to think with a cigaret and a glass of wine.
This poem is delightfully written.

Brian James
Member

since 2005-06-26

Posts 147
Winnipeg

2 posted 2006-07-29 12:31 PM

This is a very original take on the theme I was trying to introduce, and I appreciate it very much. The nostalgia comes across as something very sincere, and I love the way in which you give your imagery rhetorical weight---it's hard to argue with the facts as you present them.

What's especially powerful is that you're so withdrawn, and you don't express political angst of any kind (except maybe somewhat in the last line), but keep your focus on the nostalgia you feel for a golden age. This is perfect and I give it top marks.

I'm sorry it took me so long to actually get around to reading this, though.

Brian

"To me, the thing that art does for life is to clean it, to strip it to form."
~Robert Frost

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