Cigarettes
I’m down to my last pack
so out I go across the road
to the convenience store
the one with the 99-cent
Pepsi’s and the overly-
priced gasoline
.
I’m not dressed for public
certainly not like I had
considered who I might see
so I’m wearing old jeans
a floppy, comfy t-shirt
and my black yard shoes
who am I going to impress
.
there’s always that one lady
at the register ahead of me
buying a number 3
2 number 4’s and of
course 3 number 7’s
she expects there to
be money buried there
under those scratch-offs
.
I wait impatiently
behind this lady gambler
ask for my preferred carton
only to be interrupted
by the loud-talking
guy coming in the door
who has to continue
his conversation
from a distance with
his friend who is still
outside at the pump
.
now, finally, I can pay
and go back across the road
in my dirty yard shoes
I didn’t impress anyone
just like I thought
I’m reminded why being
out in public really isn’t
my favorite thing
——————————————————–—————
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Posted on January 9, 2016, in Poetry and tagged Cigarettes, DoubleU, John White, Poetry. Bookmark the permalink. 45 Comments.
DoubleU = W 
So we live and learn…. 😉
Thank you, Bushka! 🙂 Yes we do. 😉
There’s not a day goes by that I’m not grateful to be free from cigarettes and addiction’s ability to take me places where I don’t want to go in conditions I don’t want to be seen in. Great poem reminding me to appreciate my hard-won freedom. I can relate to every line.
Thank you! 🙂 It’s the hardest won freedom do doubt.
I can relate to this as well 🙂
Thank you, Judy! 🙂 It’s great to meet you!
You too John 🙂
I can totally relate.
Thank you, Bob! 🙂
This wouldn’t have any relationship to the doctor’s orders, would it? Geesh! Of course no one is going to make me give up my own drugs of choice–Anything crunchy saturated with fat and salt. I’d walk a mile in my jammies for a stick of butter.
not even gang stalkers? ah, they’re pointless little hipocrites indeed.
Thank you! 🙂 It’s a pleasure to meet you!
Thank you, Karen! 🙂 Sometimes we just need our fix no matter the hour. 😉
I never looked forward to being out in public either. I’ve been free of the coffin nails for over twenty-five years now and realize that my problem was not being in the public eye so much as “who” might see me when I did venture out. As usual a good read.;)
Thank you! 🙂 It’s a habit I need to kick but until then it’ll be like you said – “oh boy, who am I going to run into?” 😉
I really enjoyed reading this poem. It definitely sounds a lot like the town i live in. Good work! And thanks for following my blog.
You’re welcome and thank you! 🙂 It’s a pleasure to meet you!
I despise things that force me out of my shell. Also, I’ve always had an obsession with the inclusion of cigarettes in poetry, despite (or maybe because) I don’t smoke and don’t hang out around anyone that does.
Thank you! 🙂 The truly introverted never seem to get excited about being out there in public. You’re right, the smokes are a bad habit but it’s a hard on to break.
A very honest depiction of people like us who don’t like to move out from their safe havens but have to!
Thanks for passing by my blog and liking it! I checked back,and found an amazing treasure of work here! 🙂
Keep writing, and inspiring!
Thank you! 🙂 You’re too kind. It’s great to meet you!
Mutual feelings! 🙂 Thanks again!
🙂
Reblogged this on Crazy Pasta Child.
Thank you for the reblog!
almost unbearable
what one must do
to smoke ’em
if you got ’em 🙂
Thank you! 🙂 It’s a habit that’ll have you doing odd things and going out at odd hours. 😉
I think of it as invisibility. Not carrying so much to impress people and just going out to do what you need to do. I like how this ends, it resonates as I tend to step out to do something and realize how public places often feel like incessant noise.
As to the poetry I like the subtle rhyme in these lines:
at the register ahead of me
buying a number 3
2 number 4’s and of
course 3 number 7’s
Enjoyed the writing and story telling.
Thank you! 🙂 That seems to describe my going out – just accomplish what you went to accomplish and get home. 😉 It’s great to meet you!
Should we be concerned about the fashion sense of those we don’t know and never will?
I roll my own cigarettes.
Thank you, Alan! 🙂 I can only speak for me and my lack of fashion sense but it’s never been a big concern. 😉
Oh venturing into story telling!!! Very good.
Thank you! 🙂
This is cool 😀
Thank you! 🙂 It’s great to meet you!
You too. Looking forward to getting stuck into more of your work 😀
🙂
I am an extreme introvert and prefer not to deal with the public.
Thank you, Lynn! 🙂 I’m a pretty severe introvert also and it can be difficult to go out and face the public at times, I agree. It’s great to meet you!
Really gives you a great series of images in your head. You turn the mundane into great art. Cheers 🙂
Thank you! 🙂 You’re too kind.
hah I loved it~
Thank you! 🙂
Thank you! 🙂 Leaving the comfort of the nest can be a drain especially for the introverted. And then there are days when going out is the last thing we want to do. It’s great to meet you!
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