Here's a jolly reminder why smoking is such an appealing habit.

Things To Look Forward To

Things to look forward to
After years of smoking,
Sputum in the morning
And midnight choking,
Nicotine stains
On your teeth and fingers,
Wherever you've been
A scent of smoke lingers,
Ashes in the toilet bowl
Burn marks on the tables,
Are guaranteed signs
Of the nicotine fables.

Premature aging
Self-inflicted disease,
You can't climb the stairs
Because you rattle and wheeze,
Bronchitis and asthma
And C.O.P.D.,
Retire on oxygen
At age sixty-three.

Set fire to your lungs
Day in and day out,
Make plans for pneumonia
Every year a new bout,
Smoke when you're pregnant
Have a low birth weight kid,
When he's slower than the others
Deny that you did.

You'll taste like an ashtray
Each time that you pucker,
So you'll marry a guy
Who is a nicotine sucker,
Your non-smoking friends
Will leave subtle hints,
To bring along perfume
And a mouth washing rinse.

Pay higher insurance
More sick days each year,
Cancer and heart disease
Surprise!, they appear,
Like silent assassins
They attack without warning,
Remember it started
With a cough in the morning.

Things to look forward to
On the nicotine cruise,
You have nothing to gain
And too much to lose.

Fibril_late; 9/95