Cloudy Issues (IP)

By Rhiannonw

Mon, 16 Jul 2012
  • 3851 reads
12 comments
 

Some smoke to shock,
against parental pleasure kick,
(own-goal, strong stick
upon their back?)
a habit hard to kick or lick;
a calming crutch
when life is such
a struggle;
or key, a badge to popularity
in gang, or peer throng
of people lacking pity
who sneer, poke fun,
and taunt to smoke,
don’t really care;
aware
it could be stoking,
provoking
future fiery problems,
ambitions choking;
no joking matter,
smoking.

One who awoke
to life beyond the smoke,
would say,
‘If you would make
this freedom-break –
you’d best invoke
support,
and check what is at stake,
and you could yet relax,
while reaping cash
denied to tax
and ash.’

Certificate U
Poem
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous

Comments

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
A brilliant take on the I.P. Rhiannon. There are so many issues regarding 'smoking', and you have covered so many in your poem, not to mention the many reasons why people start smoking in the first case. Well done on this one;-) Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
Thank you, Tina. Yes, there's lot of issues; one can be insensitive, but also can avoid trying to search out the needs and difficulties. Thank you for your comment. warm regards, Rhiannon

 

Submitted by bonzo on
I may well quote your last couple of lines to my smoking friends! Enjoyed the poem.

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
Thank you, bonzo! Lots of thoughts milling round, took a while for it to get into readable shape I think! Glad you found it worked. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rigel on
I've been trying to give up 'the dreaded weed' for some months now. Your poem really hit home. Thanks, Rhiannon. Rigel

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
I hope you have success, Rigel, and that I was some sensitive encouragement. and that you have support in your desires (divine aswell as human would be good). regards and thank you for commenting to me, Rhiannon

 

Submitted by maggyvaneijk on
Very thoughtful, clever and a great title.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
Thank you maggyvaneijk, I'm glad you found it so. regards, Rhiannon

 

Submitted by alex_tomlin on
I like this - really captured some different reasons for smoking and I enjoyed the smokey, fiery imagery. And reading these IPs really makes me want to light up!

Submitted by Rhiannonw on
I hope you are speaking 'tongue in cheek'! I wanted to show understanding and sympathy, but certainly to encourage not smoking! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Rhiannon

This is a nice little poem with a lot of information again, and a moral. I smoked occasionally for awhile when I was younger, but never thought of it as something in any way bad to do. My father smoked heavily all his life and died young of emphasema. My sister also smoked heavily, and part of my smoking was to keep her company - but she too died very early, and this time of cancer - which although not directly related, no doubt had a part in making her susceptible.  When I stopped smoking I had no withdrawal symptoms, so I must never have been adicted - of maybe wasn't even doing it properly.

Now I am less than sympathetic when I see smokers around, because there is no excuse for not knowning the dangers and social displeasure involved, and there still are so many who indulge. I don't think any of my kids, nor my husband, ever smoked, so at least I don't have that to worry about.

Did you ever try smoking?

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

No, I didn't, I think the cost and the influence of the group of young Christians I was with who reckoned it might be bad for the body served to not encourage it. But like you I grew up with my father smoking a lot (a smelly pipe which in those days he felt was probably safer) and my mother a little to keep him company and not feel she was being judgemental about it. Similarly my husband parents smoked when I first knew them, but I think again it was to show they could enjoy it without getting addicted, and when more information came out, they just stopped.
Once you are not in a family where smoking occurs, you do get very sensitive to disliking the smell of it around, don't you? I was quite happy growing up, and quite liked the smell of my father's strong tobacco, but now I have to move away even outside, finding a little very overpowering. Rhiannon