A Poem

[nsd_user663_2931]

Much of my reason to stop smoking can be attributed to my kids, so you can appreciate just how hard hitting this poem is...

I lie in here, beside the whitewashed wall,

My hair is gone, my head is bald,

The room is sterile and it's very cold,

Wish you were here, Dad, I need someone to hold.

I can't breathe, I'm on a machine,

It goes whirr and click, it's such a din,

I've got lung cancer, it's all black inside,

When Mom says smoking causes cancer, Dad, I think she lied.

I never lit up, even when you did,

I just sat next to you, a small little kid,

You huffed and puffed through your life, Dad,

And Mom always looked so very sad.

My friends asked me to smoke, but I never did,

Because Mom told me from young: smoking is stupid,

It soots up your lungs and blackens your teeth,

So when I see a smoker, Dad, I anger and seethe.

You smoked two packs a day but you're still healthy and strong,

I hate smokers, Dad, but I never thought you wrong,

I love you, Dad, I always sat next to you,

And I know that you always loved me too.

The room here is cold, I see you through the glass,

And I think back to long ago, Dad, of times past,

Of the memories, I recall as much as I can,

There's always been a cigarette, Dad, stuck inside your hand.

I remember the fun things, Dad, all the times we had,

But as I look at you from here, you look so very sad,

You're not smoking, Dad, no cigarette I can see on you,

Maybe it's just the hospital, and this is the ICU.

My breathing becomes labored, I don't think I'll live,

Well, I tried my best, I gave all I had to give,

But one thing, Dad, I cannot comprehend,

I'm not a smoker, so why is my life about to end?

Smoking is such a selfish habit. I can't believe, as a mother, I let my children inhale those nasty fumes too. I wish I could say I was one of the good ones and never smoked around my kids, but I did

I smoked in the kitchen thinking it was ok as I was blowing the smoke into the extractor fan...I smoked in the car sometimes too thinking because the window was open it wasn't too bad...how selfish was I???

No more though. My kids are glad I have stopped and I'm glad for THEM. They are the only things that keep me going sometimes so I'm doing my best to make it up to them. No more selfish mummy!!

Btw, I would cite the author's name of the poem but it was submitted anonymously.

[nsd_user663_2931]

Awww I'm sorry John. I didn't mean to make anyone feel bad themselves...I did question myself whether I should post it or not but sometimes, we need something to remind ourselves just how big a deal it is to stop smoking and what a big achievement it is.

No longer are we subjecting our loved ones to those awful fumes. And I'm sure your kids are very proud to have a dad like you and are well pleased that you have finally given up the awful weed. Well done.

[nsd_user663_2931]

I've just read it again...it IS pretty deep...do you think I should delete it? :confused:

I'd hate to make anyone else feel bad!

[nsd_user663_2783]

Reaches for tissues - Oh Maddie that is so sad and, yes, hard hitting. I wish I could have read this when my lad was young it might have given me a well deserved kick up the bum. At least my grandchildren can come and stop with me in a clear atmosphere.

Thanks for posting that poem Maddie.

[nsd_user663_2783]

I've just read it again...it IS pretty deep...do you think I should delete it? :confused:

I'd hate to make anyone else feel bad!

You haven't made anyone else feel bad Maddie. Just sad that it needs a poem like this to make us see sense. I think we all need a kick up the bum now and again and if this gets the desired result then it is not a bad thing is it.

I hope that makes sense and I'm not rambling too much.

[nsd_user663_2931]

You haven't made anyone else feel bad Maddie. Just sad that it needs a poem like this to make us see sense. I think we all need a kick up the bum now and again and if this gets the desired result then it is not a bad thing is it.

I hope that makes sense and I'm not rambling too much.

Ok Jan, I'll leave it up for now...I can easily delete the poem if anyone does object to it. Thanks.

I just wondered if it was 'too' hard hitting. It tells a very sorry tale indeed. It just made me feel, in a roundabout way, relieved that I no longer subject my children to my selfish habit. Well, my old selfish habit! (my new one is hogging the wii haha)

I don't know why I posted such a depressing poem...I actually feel very happy for not smoking and do not feel down about it at all. I guess the poem held a certain something for me...after all, it was for my kids mostly that I stopped and when I read this poem, it touched me. I guess I didn't stop to think of the implications that the poem might have on others...I saw the poem as something positive as well as sad. Sad because the poem tells a sad story but happy because I no longer carry on subjecting my kids to my smoke.

[nsd_user663_2783]

Ok Jan, I'll leave it up for now...I can easily delete the poem if anyone does object to it. Thanks.

I just wondered if it was 'too' hard hitting. It tells a very sorry tale indeed. It just made me feel, in a roundabout way, relieved that I no longer subject my children to my selfish habit. Well, my old selfish habit! (my new one is hogging the wii haha)

I don't know why I posted such a depressing poem...I actually feel very happy for not smoking and do not feel down about it at all. I guess the poem held a certain something for me...after all, it was for my kids mostly that I stopped and when I read this poem, it touched me. I guess I didn't stop to think of the implications that the poem might have on others...I saw the poem as something positive as well as sad. Sad because the poem tells a sad story but happy because I no longer carry on subjecting my kids to my smoke.

Me too Maddie, me too.

[nsd_user663_2931]

Heres a happier story:

Smoking can be good for you!

Posted by: fingers on Radar talkback blog, Sydney Morning Herald

Not only does it feel good, Garry... smoking can in fact be good for you.

At university we conducted a simple experiment.

We took 20 live worms and divided them into two groups of 10.

We then placed one group into a glass of pure drinking water and one group into a glass of water through which we filtered the smoke from a packet of B&H Extra Milds.

The worms in the drinking water lived for 7 days, but the worms in the smokey water died an agonising death in less than 30 minutes, proving that if you smoke, you won't get worms...

lol How stoopid is that...

[nsd_user663_2783]

Heres a happier story:

Smoking can be good for you!

Posted by: fingers on Radar talkback blog, Sydney Morning Herald

Not only does it feel good, Garry... smoking can in fact be good for you.

At university we conducted a simple experiment.

We took 20 live worms and divided them into two groups of 10.

We then placed one group into a glass of pure drinking water and one group into a glass of water through which we filtered the smoke from a packet of B&H Extra Milds.

The worms in the drinking water lived for 7 days, but the worms in the smokey water died an agonising death in less than 30 minutes, proving that if you smoke, you won't get worms...

lol How stoopid is that...

OFL - Good job my Mum can't read this - she detests the little blighters to the point where she can't abide spaghetti.

I think I'd prefer the worms at least you can get rid of them without harming your insides.

[nsd_user663_2931]

Anyway, as we have all stopped, we are all now not subjecting them to it.

Just have to keep them away from others who smoke now

Yeah, keep them away from the stinky people

Looking back, I can't understand the logic in standing at the back door either when all the smoke did was a u-turn straight back into the house lol Gosh. We were silly sometimes weren't we? :rolleyes:

[nsd_user663_2743]

what a poem!!

i think it should stay on , when it gets hard sometimes we need reminding why we are doing this.....

it says it all.

[nsd_user663_2318]

The truth hurts!

Unfortunately most of us did smoke around our children! The fact that we have the power to change this is phenominal!! We can't change the past, but we can change the future. I heard that for every 4 cigs u smoke a nonsmoker smokes 1! The thought of that makes me sick to my stomach:mad:

I'm gald u posted the peom because some of us made need to hear the harsh reality to keep going strong in our quit!