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Open Poetry #22
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ecrivan
Member Elite
since 2001-12-10
Posts 3923
my own state

0 posted 2002-09-16 12:11 PM




Lit up a cigarettes away from kids
taught them some values as you did
held them up close in both arms
felt tobacco coughs come along

The basement smelled of tobacco smoke
Mom said smoking was no joke,
she breathed in the air just as we
and directed our attention spans away from fags
for him, life without a smoke must have been a drag

Then the cigarettes were a reasonable buy
in St Henri white smoke billowed to the sky
there Imperial Tobacco would chug along
produce rolled sticks for urban puffers
where smoke admirers would sing their song

Dad would smoke and work late hours
and supported the tobacco industry
nicotine stains would accumulate
so would carbon on his lung...
but the habit was stronger than bringing up kids
too late to reconcile for those days
smoke put his life on the skids.



© Copyright 2002 Martin Dansky - All Rights Reserved
D edgar Grey
Member
since 2002-08-21
Posts 174
Hell...(aka Wisconsin)
1 posted 2002-09-16 12:13 PM


It's sad yet sarcastic, as if it's mocking his death while warning others of the dangers involved with smoking. I liked it.
ShadowRider
Senior Member
since 2001-07-14
Posts 1038
USA
2 posted 2002-09-16 01:07 AM


grainy and edgy
like the rasp
of a habit, gone bad
but truth
that must be adressed by far too many
far too late

jeff

ecrivan
Member Elite
since 2001-12-10
Posts 3923
my own state
3 posted 2002-09-16 10:23 AM


Had to add that touch of sarcasm..don't want to mock the dead but the lady he left behind endured many a painful moment as a result...just goes to show you how strong a habit can be.... Now I as a kid breathed in all that secondary smoke...


the_loner_23
Member Ascendant
since 2002-06-08
Posts 5479
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
4 posted 2002-09-16 03:09 PM


Smoking is very bad. Especially for a person like me with asthma. Good poem.

Cold hands means a warm heart

Auguste
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Member Elite
since 2000-02-16
Posts 3953
By the sea
5 posted 2002-09-16 04:42 PM


Being an ex-smoker and recently losing half a lung to cancer, I can relate well to this.  Both of my parents also smoked and my mother died from emphysemia.  Yes, nicotine is horribly addictive.  A very good write!  Keep on!
Sybil
Member
since 2002-09-12
Posts 73
Midwest
6 posted 2002-09-16 04:46 PM


I know first hand the terrible addiction that comes with smoking, and the companies have laced their products with just enough other vices that there should be more than financial payouts...there should be jailtime.  There was a movie, recently, that was very much on target...

I applaud all of those who never started, and those of our viewing public that took the time to put their priorities, and families, before their vice...thank you for not smoking.

arthur
Senior Member
since 2001-08-14
Posts 678
england
7 posted 2002-09-16 05:02 PM


hard words -but the subject deserves them
arthur

ecrivan
Member Elite
since 2001-12-10
Posts 3923
my own state
8 posted 2002-09-16 10:17 PM


Auguste,

Sorry to hear of the loss of part of your lung...thanks for sharing your background with us

Arthur,

the hard words are plentiful, but I held back
brevity is what I wanted here..the settings speak a thousand words



ecrivan
Member Elite
since 2001-12-10
Posts 3923
my own state
9 posted 2002-09-16 10:20 PM


Sybil,

Smoking is bad for anybody's health and I admit to have tried it "to fit in with the crowd". Today I do my best to keep away from
most.

Loner,

so stop the smoking before it's too late. The tobacco companies won't pay your medical bills!


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