Best Cigs Poems
I remember those days when just a kid,
the old ten shilling note, and the odd quid.*
Teddy boys in their drain pipes, fur collars
smelling of nicotine, street wise scholars.
Conkers,* glass alleys* and comics as well,
bow and arrows, gat* to ring the school bell.
Electric tram, trolley bus and steam train
holidays in Blackpool, not yet in Spain.
Left over stew, dripping dispersed on bread,
a choice of marg or jam, not both was spread.
Roly-poly pud with custard, oh yes
school dinners, oh the ridicule the stress.
Journey in to space radio drama,
while bathing in a tin bath pure karma.
Medicals at school and nit nurses too
combing for the eggs, washing with shampoo.
No drugs, only cigs in small packs of five,
fifty fifty dance halls, old and new thrive.
Outside loo, oh them freezing winter nights
oil lamps, a candle to enhance one’s lights.
High street fish and chip shop charging nine pence,
potato crisps, tab* of salt to dispense.
Tanners,* hape’ny’s* and those threp’ny* bits,
meccano sets, clockwork trains came in kits.
Motorbikes, British pride on just two wheels,
Triumph, BSA, a nation reveals.
Alas long gone these balmy days of laze,
happy to have played a part in this phase!
*Quid:::: A one pound note (UK)
*Conkers:;;; Game played with the fruit of the horse chest nut tree.
*Glass Alleys::::: A type of Marble for the game of marbles.
*Gat::::: A catapult, or slingshot..
*Tab::: One brand of crisps in the UK, place a small blue pack of salt in each packet
*Tanners:::: A sixpenny coin
*Hape’ny’s::: A halfpenny coin
*Threp’ny bit::::: A Threepenny 12 sided coin, also called Thrupence depending where one resided in the North of England
.
© Harry J Horsman 2012
There might be
no returning
once I've kissed another
Don't make me create
a decision like this,
because temptation is all around
women tapping my arm
in the crowd,
of horned legs
lit cigs,
hips, ****, and ass
and where are You?
doing the same? (I know)
Seems unnatural
but nearly habitual -
A sort of Peacock - Rooster ritual
Don't tell me
to hold them
around by the waist
(thinking of you all the while leaves such a bad taste)
I my beer soaked untrue
mouth,
evaporation temptation
with red hot moves
down south,
Please re - consider
and I'll meet you for coffee
instead,
Please call me
and reassure my caffineated
screwed up head
(don't let me do this)...
Guess who the mad gab is all about
It's us, a well known pack of old geezers
Old grandpas that are in trouble no doubt
Now most of us are coughers and weezers
It was a risk to be cool and not hide
Drawn to the taboo tobacco, that's right
While John and Paul sang ticket to ride
We would smoke that tobacco all night!
Some warned against it when sales began
Others would speak out and say balderdash
We are just cool like the Marlboro man
And for cigs, kerplunk, put down their cash
Our life has gone up in smoke it's true
Now we need oxygen close to our heads
But don't feel bad for this old sorry crew
We do have some fancy hospital beds!
3/11/2019
For Anyone Game? contest
By Carol Connell
Twas the night before Christmas
And try as I may
I’d never be done
By the break of next day.
The stockings weren’t hung
Hell, they weren’t even knit
And the children in bed?
No, they’re throwing a fit!
And me in my kerchief
And Kmart house coat
Was testing a Holiday
Ice Cream-tini float.
When what to my
Bloodshot eyes should appear
But my absentee husband
With two cases of beer!
His eyes, how they glistened
His laughter, how scary
His walk was zig zag
His nose a red cherry!
He spoke not a word
(We last spoke in ought-eight)
But climbed up in my trailer
Like I’d cigs on rebate.
Then laying a finger
Inside of his nose
He belched and he farted
And took off his clothes.
But I heard him exclaim
‘Ore passing out for the night,
“Merry Christmas to All!
Can I have Newport Lite?”
November 28, 2018
brothers we be, brother we be free
brothers we be
brother we be free
me and lil bro would have these sword fights
yelling fight to our deaths
yelling to the victor gets Kristina the neighbor's daughter
we were young
about ten
drawing inspiration from each other
and being heroes someday we be
we also put words in Kristina's mouth
she didn't mind, she was like us
this was back in the late 60's
in the land of the midnight sun, Norway
it was also during a time in history
of the viet nam war where these Americans were being protested against
numerous time, i remember,
the house windows being spray painted and broken
brothers we be
brother we be free
we also faced hostility from neighboring kids, much older kids
to the sword fights we go
we fought gallantry
with our little weenie sticks we would fought with so much
gallantry, so gallantry
the kind we would roast weenies and marshmallows on
we were Spartans, fighting passionately
honing our skills for these mean kids
and let me tell you those weenie sticks hurt
it hurt our backside when i sliced off mom's roses
let me tell you
brothers we be
brother we be free
we were also mischief
stealing dads cigs and liquor
sneaking out late at night to our tree forth
one time with Kristina
and let me tell those tree forts hurt our backside
let me tell you, i kid you not
especially when Kristina's dad told ours, ouch
brothers we be
brother we be free
against the neighboring kid we held our own
let me tell, me and lil bro
earning respect on the fjords
fishing, canoeing, swimming
in winter
skiing, especially long jumping and hockey
summer months playing soccer
in time we were ingratiating ourselves with the hood
let me you we did
the best was taking a hike deep into the forest one day
coming upon an inhabited cabin
breaking in, stealing some reindeer horns, girly mags
cookies and sweets
it was passage of life, it forged memories
for two brothers that grew some balls, conviction
experience growing up fast to protect their honor against the hood
but mostly, mostly
brothers we be
brother we be free
connie pachecho
1/21/17
Ringlet curls
Cabbage patch wrists
Dependent on me
Everyday a new twist
Making and breaking
Toys, games and knick-knacks
Mommy’s little speed racers
Mile long smile’s, are all I can crack
Yeah, frustration settles
From time to time
Then I behold their faces
And think “wow, those are mine”
I try to think back
Before mommy-hood
On a straight road to nowhere
Parties, cigs, all no good
I went to see Doc.
He said “hey, Randa guess what…
…no more parties for you…
…at least not for 9 months”
Shock sunk in
“I’m a mommy-to-be”
A whole pack of cigs in the trash,
For the baby growing in me
Now I’m a mommy of 2
One 10 months and one on year 3
And to tell you the truth
I wouldn’t change one thing
They straightened me up hair to toe
No other could understand
How I thank them so
My hero’s un-planned
Copyright © Miranda Lambert
Written: 6/21/2011
For “My Children” Contest
It's about being
14 again man
that's what it's
all about
Pool parties Teen dances
Kiss romances
mini skirts
no beer no drugs
no cigs
care free free
days but be
sure to tuck
your head between your knees
and Kiss your Ass
Good-bye
And when we knew
they had shot
the President
They sent us
home that
Day!
3rd or 4th grade
I don't really
remember much
after that
My draft card
# was 125 or something like that
It's all kind of gray
It's all about being
14
anyway
Bee Gee's Beatles and Rolling Stones
Sight.
Sound.
Smell.
Taste.
The trains.
The tracks.
The rush, the haste.
The sweeties and toffees,
Newspapers and coffees,
Cases and bags, e-cigs and fags,
Pasty and tanned, iphone in hand,
The people who come and the people who go
And the Taxis that wait, as you cannot be late -
Spill out men in their ties, College kids in tie-dyes,
End of termers returning to their seat of learning,
The screeching of brakes and the slamming of doors,
From the ‘barely awakes’ and the ‘ready to go’s -
The good lucks and goodbyes, fears and tears in the eyes,
And the hugs that don’t end and the texts that they’ll send,
The lovers, the losers, the shakers and movers, the gap-year beginners and ‘nothing to prove’rs -
Step right into the mouth of the train as it stands, hoping this journey syncs with the ticket in hand -
To all points of the compass; South, West, East and North,
The disparate throng fast shuddering forth,
Frozen of face, their personal space.
Typical of the human race.
Lost in the crowd, all heads bowed.
Silent fears, screaming loud …..
Break out the ‘Hello’s -
And ban ‘Goodbye’
Journeys end
Hovers,
Nigh.
One day I
noticed an old man Walking
and humming
a song. Stopping
I said, "excuse me
sir, may I ask,
how have
you lived so long?"
He then turned off his
radio, touching his old
chin for a bit. He said,"ok I'll
tell you friend About my life
style this is it." I always have me
some whiskey Before bed and
x when I get up. Smok-
x ing four packs of
x cigs a day, I also put
x gin in my coffee cup
x I can't say I exercise
x I'll not walk if
x I have a car. I
x lay and watch tv
x all day and all
x night, I hang out
at a bar! I was surprised and told him so
“That's not how I thought it would be,
may I ask how old are you now?”
He said, “Oh, I'm thirty three!”
like smoke from the end of my cig
she's dancing all over, you dig?
so after i hit
the rush that i get
brings exstacy under my wig
Familys complaining can ya hear em?
Uncle larry's probaly gonna puke dont get near him.
I kinda messed up sight.
Someone get Bobby Joe outthe street cause ya know he aint bright.
Christmas kinda blows around here.
So toss me a bottle and crack a beer.
Hey did anyone know how the tree caught fire?
No sweetie uncle Stan isnt a down on his luck actor.
He's really a drug dealer and habitual liar.
Is egg nog supposed to have chunks.
No baby it's not cool that your 13 on facebook asking
for pic's of shirtless hunks.
Great it's time to sit down to dinner
Yes sure is great Father O Malley showed up.
Who better to chasethe boys and drink up the whiskey
screaming at the hat rack it's a sinner.
Um it's hard to make snow Angels on the concrete.
No your son isnt spoiled.
He's just wearing more than i make month with his
seven thousand dollar sneakers on his feet.
Grandma it's kiss under the mistletoe no tongue.
Ya think grandpa would have slowed on the cigs after getting put in the iron lung.
Great a blizzard has snowed us all in. yippie im bunking with Little Tommy tinkles thats the
way the holiday goes.
I think freezing to death doesnt sound so bad.
Lord how Christmas blows.
Had to sugar coat this alot happy holidays stay crazy
Gonzo
Here another season has gone
And winter is back to this town
I’ve always been afraid of thunder and sparkle
‘Cause its rumbling reminds me that I'm a loner
You say you’re here to watch over me
That you‘ll never forsake me
And if I fall you’d be there to catch me
But it’s scaring me
Your warmth is shattering me
Why do you have to be that kind to me?
Why do you have to live only for me?
Why you never get furious and always forgive me?
I know that you know I ain’t faithful
I know that you know my heart is playful
I know that you know my love was never truthful
Your eyes smile when they embrace my face
And my mind is thinking about all those pieces of crap
I’ve been tossing behind your back
But you’re always here to chuck me under the chin
Are you aware? Are you an angel or maybe a saint?
All these times I’ve been lying to you saying I'm heading to my household
While I was sleeping with another boo
All these wakeful nights you spent wide awake waiting for me to come home
While I was splashing out and clubbing with the bad crew
All those moments you were proudly calling me lover
But to my world you were my brother
All those kisses and touches you were longing for with me
While I was sharing them all along that narrow alley
All those late night texts and calls, the smell of cigs on my clothes
You knew them all but you never told a soul
Sometimes I question myself,
Is this your way to strike back?
Are you torturing your core because you don’t want to lose?
Do you know that everything you do is leaving me ashamed?
Do you know how much I’m hating myself?
Today, under this cloudy sky
I'm confessing all my fallacies
I’ll break out my iniquitous mysteries
Yes, I'm the worst girl ever existed
And because you aren’t me not like the others
I won’t let you abuse your purity with a player
I could be anything but a human
It’d sound cheesy if I avow my love to you
It won’t change the fact that I'm a ****
Witch like me, cannot overstep love’s zone
So baby please don’t believe these stupid songs
Love can’t change people if they don’t want
Yes, I'm a cheater that’s why I'm leaving you now
‘Cause you deserve to live better and I deserve to cry and suffer
You deserve to be loved harder and I deserve to be alone forever
...inspired by the Robert Earl Keen Jr song
'The Road Goes On Forever'
Flying high thru south west Texas
black Camaro's leaking oil,
radiator needs attention,
sputtering, it starts to boil.
Up ahead a service station,
got to get attention quick,
a fast mechanic and a twelve pack,
cigs and chew will do the trick.
Curt's his name, his disposition,
mean, and dangerous to boot,
he robbed a bank in Amarillo,
teller there he had to shoot.
He doesn't know the teller made it,
thinks he's headed for the Chair,
guns the Chevy, checks the rear view,
blows a tire and fits the spare.
Evening comes, it starts to raining,
visibility is bad,
seven beers, he feels some comfort,
wildest time he's ever had!
Heading southward to the border,
up to speed, he's almost there,
no sign of lawmen in his mirror,
no restrictions anywhere.
North of Shafter there's a roadblock,
troopers out in full array,
he floors the pedal, doing ninety,
they're not gonna block his way!
He slams a cruiser at full measure,
they are stationed full three deep,
a fiery heap of molten metal,
none to grieve and none to weep.
My Bus Journey
Getting on the bus to go into town
Ten passengers standing up, twenty sitting down
The card reader's faulty, won't recognise my bus pass
Youths standing at the bus stop banging on the glass
Unaccompanied children, probably going to gran's
Elderly couple opposite, sitting holding hands
Driver says he's running late and that he can't delay
Gives me no time to find a seat, before he's on his way
Can't find an empty disabled seat, even though I have a stick
Able-bodied people stay sitting in them, looking at me as if I’m thick
I stand in the aisle, swaying back and forth
I'm facing south, though the bus is travelling North
I try to turn to face the front but someone is standing in my way
Weighed down with an overstuffed backpack, that pummels me as I sway
Youths at the back, thinking they're ‘cock of the walk'
With their forbidden e-cigs and their filthy talk
We come to a standstill, young mother gets on, pushchair in her hand
Though there's already two buggies on, and she's going to have to stand
She stands at the front, right in between
The passengers stay put, you know what I mean
At the next stop, I want to get off
But those standing won't budge, they just stand there and scoff
I push my way through to the front of the bus
I get to the driver, I don't make a fuss
The driver says “Sorry, I can't make them move
Good manners are a thing of the past, as this journey did just prove”
Dave Grigger is marinating in the tub.
Stopped by the Dollar-General and
got some bubble-bath. Feels like a
a jacuzzi at a midget night club filled
with gassy-ass dwarfs.
Reach for the cigs - wait -
dab hands on towel to dry.
Cool.
Now reach for the cigs, draw
one, like a blunted dagger
of delectable carcinogens.
Got no matches.
The head of a German Shepherd emerged
from the bubble bath.
My work was not finished, damn.
Gotta picket a few more abortion clinics.