I stopped smoking when I had a heart attack in 2002, but if there's anyone who can tempt you to start smoking it's Humphrey Bogart, as in his portrayal of Rick, and Philip Marlowe. This is for him.


When I light up

When I light up a plain cigarette,
Open-ended like my life,
I become characters I am not,
Like a man who cheats on his wife,
When I've smoked it half way down
I'm the fastest gun in town,
I'm a flash-suited spiv,
I'm a hoodlum who can't forgive,
It's only when I suck on the dimp
That my alter-ego goes limp,
And as I stub it out with stealth,
I realise it's imagining that's
Bad for one's health.




Chris Fernie, 2009



Poetry by Chris Fernie
Read 583 times
Written on 2009-06-21 at 17:39

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Esti D-G The PoetBay support member heart!
read it again,
and its even better!
muchluvestix
2009-07-16


Rob Graber
No, I really kinda think its the tars and nicotine... Much enjoyed!
:-,?
2009-06-21


Esti D-G The PoetBay support member heart!
Bookmarked! Can I put it in my "10 Second Poems" collection?
luv estix
2009-06-21


melanie sue
Another great poem on one of life's common vices. I congratulate you that you have quit. I smoked starting at age 16 until I was 25 but I only had a light habit because, honestly, I never really liked smoking the things except when drinking. Anyway, it was the best thing I ever did and I feel certain it has added many more youthful years to my life than I otherwise would've had. Sadly, my mom still smokes despite the fact that smoking caused my father to die a horrible death. It is one of the best things you could have ever done for yourself and your family. :)
2009-06-21