Home » Poems » Kim Rodrigues » Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand Smoke

Swirling smoke and tobacco cheeks;
leave no glass on the patio. Plastic
water bottle filled to the gills with butts.
children don’t care -
off
in their own world. generation gap
is apparent as one grows
old. Young
will carry on. What will the world
be?
I breathe, I sigh, I hold my breath;
eventually,
I inhale secondhand smoke, and try
to reach, teach, inspire
these kids, but I can’t reach them, so I
pray.
The laughs, the jokes, loud rock, the moods
of one generation down; one
to go.
Perhaps, I’ll linger for a while; follow
grand pals, see where life leads them.
Certainly
strange on this side of life. Dear dad
doesn’t care
anymore; I can see that.
Paddling
the ball; pingpong
for all.
It is where we meet in the middle,
on
the center line - dividing net.
Sidenote:
pool is a free for all. splash.

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Bj Legros Kelley

Date: 7/11/2025 3:55:00 AM

Secondhand smoke, secondhand choke, I never had a single thing that's new-ew-ew....Sorry, just a parody I once made up on the subject, lol, forgive me for sharing my secondhand smoke-choke joke rendition sung to the tune of Secondhand Rose, of course! My hubby hates my song, I know it's annoying :) Rules in place for open air outgoor smokers is a good rule, and I agree with you, loving family and spending time together even if we may not agree with everything matters the most! The pool sounds like a lot of fun!

Kim Rodrigues
Date: 7/11/2025 7:10:00 AM

Since I am not usually with them all, it was ok…we were outside, anyway. LOL!

Gershon Wolf

Date: 7/8/2025 8:34:00 PM

As they say, the more things change, the more they stay the same. btw: How many social movements can sustain themselves for more than 1 or 2 generations? -- Not many. Very few.

Kim Rodrigues
Date: 7/9/2025 7:54:00 AM

Seems so! Crazy world…we learn! Thank you for your comment, dear Gershon!

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 7/8/2025 11:11:00 AM

Hello Kim Rodrigues, A person in a room with people that smoke will breaht in the second hand smoke. People that quit smoking can smell the second hand smoke. It makes our eyes watery. We smell the smoke on thier clothes I wish they would give up smoking. Hugs. /Darlene

Darlene De Beaulieu
Date: 7/8/2025 2:57:00 PM

Hello Kim, yes it is better that they were outside. Otherwise yhour home would smell of smoke. Hugs. /Darlene/

Kim Rodrigues
Date: 7/8/2025 1:19:00 PM

At least it was outside. Since I don’t see them often, it was worth it. Hugs,Darlene ~ Kim

Paige Hind

Date: 7/8/2025 10:57:00 AM

Some interesting and wise thoughts here that come with age. "It is where we meet in the middle, on the center line - dividing net." liked the ending too, <3

Kim Rodrigues
Date: 7/8/2025 1:19:00 PM

Thank you, sweet friend! Hugs