THE LAST CIGARETTE

7 Comments

Poem Commentary

I think we are reborn many times in life - this is just one.

THE LAST CIGARETTE

It was on Memorial day, hell, I don't remember when
I quit those damn cigarettes, an' never picked them up again
They ruled my life for twenty years, an' I never knew just why
But I figured out just what they did, an' I decided not to die
I don't know why I started. It was a such a foolish act
But once it got a hold of me it was like we formed a pact
Suckin' smoke into my lungs was such a silly thing
But I continued all those years, unaware what it might bring
Both my folks had smoked, an' still young they both had died
Doctors said the smoke was good, but they we found had lied
I wouldn't buy a carton, I knew I'd not smoke them all
But pack after pack I'd inhale, just headin' for a fall
Still, I was luckier than most, I gave them up in time
Before my second son was born, I stepped back from the line
I tried to stop so many times, I'd used up all my tricks
But finally I drew that line, those cigarettes I'd eighty-six
So I picked out the day I would remember all my life
This time I'd quit for good, and I promised my pregnant wife
I thought it a day appropriate, to honor those who died
This day I vowed I'd stop, no more I'd let it slide
So Memorial day I was born again, I smoked my last cigarette
I thew away the half empty pack, an' I've never felt regret


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earthly commented on THE LAST CIGARETTE

06-08-2010

YAY for you-I quit about 15+ years ago-Still find it hard to believe I ever smoked cigarettes-Namaste...Earthly

Stryx

06/08/2010

Yes - I dislike the smell of smoke today - particularly in a room where smoke remains. Good for you as well.

icu2 commented on THE LAST CIGARETTE

05-31-2010

What a smart fella to overcome such an inimical pleasure. I feel so bad for those who wish to stop, but cannot. I think it is harder for some than it is for others. I hope all smokers read this!

Stryx

05/31/2010

I have devised different ways to stop, but they all come down to just one thing - DON'T PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH! Then of course, mentally let go of it - that's the important thing, or one goes back.

Madelynn commented on THE LAST CIGARETTE

05-31-2010

Realities of humanbeings are just so 'yucky'- we are creature of habit. Your work here just may save lives! I quit, and then found myself getting into those ugly sticks again a year ago.- Even tho' I held my Dad's beautiful hand at an early death. You brought more than great writing to us this Memorial Day..you brought us truth, and awareness..thank you. There really is no rating system high enough to praise that!-peace,Maddi

Stryx

05/31/2010

My best vision was to think of the cigarette as a bird on my finger. I swirled my hand and let it fly away. But it is important to let it fly out of one's mind as well. Thank you for your comments.

SavVySam commented on THE LAST CIGARETTE

05-30-2010

Good for you...and who ever may be reading this and haven't quite decided yet!! Awesome!:)

Stryx

05/30/2010

Yes, I too am hoping. It's a filthy habit smokers aren't aware of until they stop. Then they wonder how they could do that to their friends. Thanks Sam

Teardrops commented on THE LAST CIGARETTE

05-30-2010

Great poem and it rings with the hardship of quiting a bad habit. Loved the flow and it wasnt a love poem . Thanks Marie

Stryx

05/30/2010

Perhaps it was. A love of family and of self. Thsnks M.

When power leads man towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.

John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) Thirty-fifth President of the USA

Stryx’s Poems (203)

Title Comments
Title Comments
THE OLD SONGS 4
THE GATE 10
That Christmas Mouse 7
Often I weep... 12
OCTOBER MOURNING 13
We May Never Know 9
SOUND Haiku 6
IF YOU KNEW... 13
Catching The Wind 11
THE CALL 7
It's That Time Of Year Again! 6
The Humming bird 7
A Warrior is Tamed 11
Haiku Rain - and other stuff 7
As In a Blink of an Eye 12
ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE THINGS... 8
To the Porcelain God 14
24 - 7 15
Of Lust and Love 10
GREEN EYES 12
LEGACY 7
Rockies in the Spring 8
The Royal Drink 9
All Rhythm and no Rhyme nor Reason 9
DRAGON SLAYER 14
A Thunk - or Two 11
A Child Contemplates 7
Who are we? Who will we become? 10
A sound philosophy of WAR 9
Come with me. Papa 7
The importance of a smile 12
The Niner 11
Small - bent and mighty 9
Crime and Belief 7
What If... 6
THE CONCORD CARRIAGE 5
THE LAST CIGARETTE 7
The Light 6
FREE WILL 3
A light moment in the sun 6
The Inherited Gardener - 1985 7
THE DEPTH OF LOVE 5
To All Lost Loves 7
An early morning full moon 9
My Old Friend is Gone 8
The MAZE 11
Life and Death 12
May This Be Me... 8
Philosophic Haiku 4
Ring the Bell of Freedom 2
Have you ever thought? 5
A childs 9 ft. square sand box 2
Pikes Peak in Fog - Haiku 3
Spring Haiku 11
Touching from across the Room 8
Reason 6
A moments reflection 2
16 Days 10
Bits and Pieces of what I have [almost] learned 6
Last Moments 10
Pome to my Luv - Elly Mae 7
youwereright.
..
7
A LONG STROLL 6
The Soldier 7
A Conundrum 5
A New and Lasting Love 9
I'm confused... 10
Today's Father 7
Colorado Haiku 7
THE ART OF NOT LEARNING 5
Friend and/or Lover 8
IF YOU LOVE... 4
Where are they? 3
Repetition 3
Our real progenitors 4
BACK OFF! 3
Historical Haiku 2
Everything - in its own time 4
ARE THERE TREES in the Afterlife? 4
HUMILITY 3
Tuesday Morning in COS 2
Winter Haiku 2
Goodnite - my Finnish Spitz 7
A gift to yourself... 4
On Giving and Receiving 5
More Christmas Haiku 4
What I have learned - not through accepting, but in thinking. 4
Christmas Haiku 3
For the Love of Polly 6
Being a Son 3
I wonder how many know... 3
The Hoard 4
Perhaps You Think 3
Munchausen by Proxy 2
What to believe in... 2
Admitedly I am Conflicted 3
Problems... 4
Oh - I'll never forget whatsername..
.
5
The Diner 6
WHO? 5
Out of The Fog 3
Haiku - en mass 3
LOVE 8
PERSPECTIVE 7
WHO YOU ARE [Could this be you?] 6
Halloween Nonsense 7
An Observation 6
Thoughts over morning coffee... 4
Two word poetry 4
Perfection 3
A Child's Fear 4
A non-rhyming tribute 5
What is the Perfect Poem? 5
The Gift 3
Harmony 2
THE KILL 2
The Lineage 2
The Judges 1
Tenderness 5
For those who like 'Haiku' 2
Food - Vitamins and Food 2
THE CROSS 2
Lasting Love 3
Tolerance 3
Diversity 2
Things to Know 2
The Difference 2
HE (a non-devotiona
l poem)
3
Sea Gulls and Crows (haiku) 1
Life is not what you think 4
Birth and Death 7
Lost Love 2
THINGS COULD GET WORSE 1
The Parade 1
It's a Puzzlement 4
The symbol 1
The Unicorn 3
Knowledge 2
Early snows(Haiku) 2
Three little words 1
It is more blessed... 1
The Seasons 1
The Gift 1
A CASE FOR REASON [NOT for Believers] 0
SPRING 1
The Meadow 1
Inspiration 2
Three MORE Lines 3
A child's Halloween 3
Good o'l Winston 1
The Poet? 2
ABAFT 10
unfinished poem 3
The Immortal 4
THANKSGIVING 4
Another Three Lines... 1
Life's Tides 2
A Paradox 2
Old Man 1
THE POWER OF ONE 1
A moment in time 2
ECHO - A Children's Poem 2
TRAINS RUINED MY WIFE (LIFE) 5
RECOURSE - [A Song] 2
I AM THE CHARACTER 2
WISDOM 1
A mythunderstan
ding
3
TO FUTURE GENERATIONS 1
1928 1
CHARACTER 1
Chicken Questions Answered 0
WHO I AM 0
EARTH TO MAN 1
DOOMED 1
THE INHERITED GARDENER [1895] 1
O Men 1
TO THE THOUGHTFUL 1
TO THOSE WH REFLECT 1
Waiting for Inspiration 9
THE CLERICS 3
THE ECHO 4
PERFECTION 5
THE RATTLER 4
TO ALL WHO WALK 3
Had you remained a friend 3
ECHO 6
Only Two Lines... 8
TEN THOUSAND PIPES OF PEACE 8
Only Three Lines 6
BABBLINGS 7
FIRST BORN 8
Puget Sound 5
THE LAW OF LIFE 9
A moment in time 8
Friend 7
An Image of love and respect... 2
TO THE LONELY 8
the presence within 11
D. O'Dell 6
Haiku 9
TO THE LOVED EVERYWHERE 10
LAST DAYS 7
Today I Saw The First Leaf Fall 18