I'm posting this in response to Kris Hankin's poem "You Light Up My Life". I only smoked for a short time---that was the extent of my rebelliousness when I was younger. I quit permanently when I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter.

~~~ *** ~~~

I started smoking cigarettes,
When it was thought quite cool,
But times have changed so very much,
And now I'm called a fool!

For risking health to puff away,
On a cancer stick,
With no regard for those who care
That it could make me sick!

When I am at a party
Or on a break at work,
Non-smokers cough and stare me down,
And I feel like a jerk!

I'm tired of the flack I get
Everywhere I go,
I wish they'd let me smoke in peace
But it never will be so.

For times have changed, and I should too,
So I'll kiss my smokes good-bye,
For smokers are a dying breed
And I don't want to die!

~~~ *** ~~~