The Retired Camper

The newly retired couple 
came to Florida 
escaping Canada’s winter.

Emerging from his camper
shortly before noon each day
he sat in a chair under an awning.

I never saw him reading
or going anywhere,
except short trips to the grocer.

His only interest seemed to be
cigarettes as he puffed
throughout the day.

I cringed each time I heard
him cough—a shallow and congested sound
from unhealthy lungs.

When I think of him
I feel a sadness.
Our camping neighbor last year 

died before returning home in the Spring.
I wonder about this neighbor,
will his wife also call us with bad news?
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Nicole Avatar
March 25, 2019 at 9:49 PM
Smoking is a habit that I never started. Very sad indeed, the effect it causes. You have expressed this so well. ~ Brandy
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