I will comfort you.
I will make you
Feel calm among strangers.
Feel calm when your mind is agitated.
Relax…relax…relax…
Then:
I will make you
Leave your children...to spend time with me.
I will make you
Leave your work to be with me.
I will make you
Feel anger when I am denied.
I will make you
Feel rage when you can’t be with me.
Then:
I will make you deny the truth.
I will take your breath away.
I will make you question your will power.
I will fill you with self-doubt.
I will make you leave your potential unfulfilled.
And yet you will still love me.
Then:
When I am almost through with you
I will give you disease.
Yet you will still love me.
I will make you love me through it all.
Then when I am done with you,
I will kill you.
Forever Yours in Life
...and Death,
Tobacco
3 comments:
Hi Tom, This is a powerful poem, not just because of the themes, but the way you express it. If you read an earlier post I wrote (and then pulled) from my blog, you know my mom is on oxygen 24 hours a day due to smoking for over fifty years. It took a diagnosis of COPD for her to finally break the addiction. She would otherwise be healthy. From everything she's said about smoking, and the impact on her health, your poem rings true. Thank you for posting it.
You are welcome Annie. I really appreciate your response. My Mother was in the same condition as yours and as millions of others are. It was good when she finally passed and could be at peace again. There is no overstating the strength of that addiction. I completely quit over 17 years ago yet could easily light one up right now. Fortunately I rarely think about it anymore... just when I see others struggling.
Hi Tom,
Our family is lucky, my Mom is able to enjoy life as much as she does, and we can enjoy our time with her. But, she was in the hospital a lot last year, and even a few months ago, and there's the inevitability, she will be again. We count every day as special. I'm glad your Mom found peace.
Take care... Annie
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