"This piece was written just  month’s ago….and requires no

introduction:the reason will become apparent very soon

after you commence reading. Yet even now, I would ask..

Why Me ?

The shock.

The agonising pain…

that shot across my chest

down my right arm…

and then back again.

I couldn’t move.
I felt paralysed.
I asked myself swiftly, why -was it fear
Was that  day - finally here?

I couldn’t  see -I couldn’t speak
I was completely dumb.
Yet, I could hear a voice calling me in my head.
But -  was I  alive, or dead?

Who are you, I asked -what do you want ?

Is this just a warning or - do you just want to chat.”             

No, replied the voice – “my name, is Stat”

I answered him -”Stat who -…

I have never heard of you

leave me alone-go away-.leave me be.”

And then- suddenly it dawned on me……..                    

So, now you know, said the voice

and yes, it is your turn now;

you know me, you know why,  and you know how!”

And then before me was a sight, 
A Sight that I will never forget. 
I saw thousands upon thousands of corpses…
Each one smoking a cigarette!

I watched, as the smoke went down in to their lungs.

I heard as they all cried out, in different tongues.

I saw smoke, clinging to and blocking their arteries.

I saw black lungs-dead hearts -I saw disease.              

I saw old people-young people- even children to.

“This”-  said the voice, “is now happening to you.

Every cigarette you smoked. .millions of them

has been eating you away……..

Don’t you remember the rasping cough

and that horrible black phlegm?”

But I will change- I cried out.

I will never smoke another one”.

To late! - the voice replied…

the process has begun”

But I will change, I repeated.
I will try that thing I read about-the patch.
To late- was the reply-Your losing this match.
But why! I cried! Why now-why me?
Why not, he replied-and I had to agree

Nobody had forced me to smoke all my life…
Regardless of the danger to the children and my wife
I had seen the adverts -read the warnings
But had ignored them, just the same.
There was nobody else but myself to blame

Who are you,  I asked, my conscience, or  what?”

Oh yes,  he replied -I almost forgot!…

my name is Stat - or statistics to you;

you must have heard of me, or do you need a clue?

This is nothing personal he said,
but I cant give you a break;
For I have my quota of people to take.
Perhaps then people will listen with every breath
and stop smoking themselves-to death.”

“So what happens now”, I cried- “am I going to die?”
“Yes” he replied –“you are the weakest link…
goodbye”

ADS2008 

Pretty damn good, Allan. Brilliant. You are a poet.

Wow..I am in the process of quitting smoking right now..Thank you for the 'pep talk'..and the encouragement to go on and beat this devil! I couldn't have found this poem at a better time!
Julie