Smoke Poem by GK Talabi

My doctor warns
Tobacco is dangerous to my health
He says
It contains Carbon Monoxide
He tells me
In order to live longer
And stay healthy
I stop the smoking entirely.

I am sixty two
Very energetic and creative
Been smoking for donkey's years
Still I remain as healthy as a horse
Apart from my stained teeth
Healthwise smoking has done me no harm.

My next door neighbour Miss Purity
A non smoker
A keep fit fanatic
A vegetarian
Ate neither fish, flesh nor fowl
She wanted to live longer
But was murdered in her own home.

On the news last week
A healthy school girl was run down
By an over the limit
Drunk driver
She must have wanted to live longer
But then.

The Federal Ministry Of Health Warns:
Tobacco Smoking Is Dangerous To Health,
I agree
Sincerely
And so are other things.