Lifelong Addiction Poem by Randy McClave

I smoked and I thought I was cool
As I smoked and carried cigarettes around school,
And because of me others began to smoke
Even many of my own kinfolk.
We smoked wherever that we could
If others wanted to smoke I'd asked them if they would,
I'd even buy the homeless cigarettes
Unfortunately not knowing I was adding to their suffering and regrets.
The non-smokers never liked my smoking
When I lit up around them they soon began coughing and choking,
But, honestly I didn't really care
Even when the scent of smoke was in my clothes and hair.
When I became a parent I allowed my children to take a puff
Now they are older and now they just can't get enough,
I believed smoking to combat stress was the answer
Then I got cancer.
Now I see and hear friends and family hack and cough while sick
Sadly that nasty habit none of them can kick,
Now with remorse and with pain I am forever afflicted
Because, I got many of them addicted.

Randy L. McClave