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The slow suicide...alas, am I ever familiar with it. My parents are quitting smoking, my father must quit because he has a lesion in his mouth that could turn into mouth cancer, which spreads faster than other cancers, if he returned again. They've both been off 'em for four months, but my mother is still on the nicotine lozenges. If there's something I hate more than my human heart, is smoking. Because, it's not that slow a suicide. It's a very quick suicide that'll snatch away anybody or everybody you care about, to the smokers themselves, they might as well start digging their graves. The second a person smokes a cigarette, they might as well shoot themselves. It'd be less painful, that way.
This piece is a beautiful lesson in metaphor poetry. It's truly awesome writing.
It is truly a gold star winner.
I'm glad I got to read it.
I think sometimes smoking can be slow suicide for those afraid of the quick ways.
When my grandmother died ~they tell me~
My grandfather knowing he had a bad heart first began to drink and smoke and a few months later he departed. So it really is true.
Anyway my compliments to the poet for another great read.
Deborah:
Thanks much for reading and especially for your heartfelt comment. Yes... I, too, am saddened when I see the health and even the lives of those you love lost to smoking. Sigh...
Shannon:
You're so very welcome, Shannon! I'm glad you liked it. I wasn't sure you would because it is not the "norm" to think of smoking as suicide. I wrote this after reading someone else's wonderful poem on the topic and I welcome new/fresh ideas and innovative ways of thinking of things. It really made me think (his poem that I read) and I LOVE it when a writing makes me think... so I wrote one of my own along a similar vein.
It has even more meaning for me now than when I wrote it... and I hope everyone that reads it realizes that although we all "know" that smoking kills... I hope they THINK about it deeper, realer... and really truly KNOW it kills. It's just like putting a gun to your head or cutting your wrists... only it harms those around the smoker as well.
It has been "estimated that during the 1990s in developed countries, tobacco will cause approximately 30 percent of all deaths among those 35 to 69 years of age, making it the largest single cause of premature death in the developed world."
—NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
Now, smoking is said to be responsible for an estimated 434,000 deaths a year in the United States. That is more than the number of all the Americans killed in battle during the past century! And The World Health Organization estimates that on a global scale, smoking claims three million lives annually!
I fully believe that God gave us life and we are to respect that life and not do anything thoughtless so as to put that life in jeopardy, or even worse... something that so reveals that disregard so blatantly such as suicide, smoking, playing "chicken" on the railroad tracks, playing Russian Roulette, or recreational use of illegal drugs. If you think of it, all of these activities do or can harm the body God gave us, and definitely increase the risk and our chances of losing the precious lives we've been given.
"Let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of [the] flesh." (2 Corinthians 7:1)
Samijo: Thank you... you too!
Connie: I often wonder if he ever quit... my husband has started as well (or maybe he did all along and I just didn't know until now) Either way... it's sad, and I wonder if I'll be more sad or mad when he gets cancer. It's not a "if" anymore... it's "when" pretty much as 1 in 2 smokers get it. I am glad he does not smoke around you though... that is good at least.
This is really effective, yet it reminds me of the way my grandma Lee died, it was because of lung cancer and heart disease brought on by smoking. That is a really upsetting poem, if you would please read my poem on the way my grandma actually died! Great poem=D If i smoked( which i don't) this would make me stop straight away!
Second hand marches on... ...all spaces invaded upon.. makes it kind of a murder/suicide thing, doesn't it?
Great write.. wonderful entry. Surprising to think of smoking as suicide, but I have lost a few loved ones to it. Some even refusing to quit in the face of death... so I can see it is deliberate!
Smoking in one way is a form a suicide. Most people when they think of suicide they think of someone cutting themselves, but this is different and rare and thats what makes it so good. It is considered a suicide because they know that smoking can kill.
Great job and thanks for entering my contest!
Shannon
Mary, This piece was very well written. My husband is a smoker and I have tried to reach him for 20 years, tried to get him to quit. He buys pills to help his lungs and thinks he can have his cake and eat it too. At least he smokes outside and doesn't make me breathe it too. ..Connie:)
Robert: I'm glad I did the topic justice after reading your wonderful piece. I'm so happy you like it, and Yes! I hope it reaches MANY~! (Hopefully before it's too late.)
Laryalee: Thanks for the kind words. *smile*
PS: I just HAVE to say something... did anyone catch the "second hand" pun? Just wondering.
Welcome !
Contest Winner
