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judyanne
judyanne
Feb 25, 2010 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

Terry







Too young.

Only fifty-five.

You smoked, you drank

and it took your life.

Small cell cancer.

Such a tiny little thing.

But fast and insidious

it stole my friend.


Tobacco, alcohol.

I haven’t stopped.

A lesson given

not taken notice of.

Our temples gifted

from the universe.

We allow invasion

by something adverse.


Why we continue

God only knows.

I’m smoking even now

while I pick a rose

to take to your graveside.














— judyanne, Feb 25, 2010

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Western Australia, AUS

Favorite Poets: Favourite poets? So many, so varied. I like particular songs, not necessarily the singer... and the same goes for poetry. I can honestly say though, that Alfred Noyes' The Highwayman was what inspired my love of poetry - my mother began reading it to me when I was still a baby, and it became my favourite bedtime story

More from this author

Critiques

xena465

xena465

16 years 3 months ago

Lovely dedication…My

Lovely dedication...My sister Catherine, I think you read the poem I decicated to her `Ashes in the Dust`, she had Chronic Alcoholism, which was the secondary cause of her death, and died age 52 as a result... A Brain Haemorrhage. I too still drink and smoke, too much, but not as bad as my sister...who life's tragedies resulted in her drinking too much for over 30 years. She was very fragile near the end and kept trying to change but it was too late for her...too much damage to her orgins that could never recover. I hope some people can learn from such a horrible death. It may still be time for some to recover, including myself. Rosina xena465
Candlewitch

Candlewitch

16 years 3 months ago

hello

A thought provoking piece, both lovely and poignant. It isn't that easy to stop smoking. (I don't know about drinking) I tried for five years to quit, having minor successes, I once stopped for a year. Then I had a major crisis in my life and started up again. But now I have been quit for nine years and finally the urge to smoke has left me. I am deeply sorry for your loss. Always, Cat
judyanne

judyanne

16 years 3 months ago

Thanks Cat. I must admit the

Thanks Cat. I must admit the drinking thing was poetic license. I learned early that I'm not a very nice person if I imbibe too much, so really do only drink on the rare occasions, and then only one or two. I am a terrible cigarette addict though - but glad to say that I have been able to cut down recently - thanks probably to the loss of this dear friend. So very nice to meet you. I will visit you soon. Love Judy
CG

Claire Garrard

16 years 3 months ago

Terry

Bleak but beautiful. I have lost friends too through smoking and drinking, but they enjoyed life while they were here. I love the style of this. Love Claire xx
Nordic cloud

Nordic cloud

16 years 3 months ago

Ann of NorwayOh sad

Ann of Norway Oh sad addiction, it is so sad that we are prone to such unnatural pass times and as nicotine is more addictive than heroin, one understands the difficulty once captured by its sting. Decide to stop and stop for ever its only you who can do that. And then you will taste food for the first time,sense the perfume of the rose, and breath the fresh air all for the first time anew as if you were reborn to this wonderful world. Oh I'm sorry if I harp I haven't mentioned it here before but you know my view now!!! Lovely poem though for your friend Judyanne. Love to you from me Ana-Nya
Seren

Seren

16 years 2 months ago

Dear Judd

I read Terry 2 and realised there must have been a 1 ... lovely tribute to your friend Love and big hugs Jayne-Chloe
SH

shirley harrison

16 years ago

wonderful and so true!

Judy your so busy i cant keep up with you! wow this is so sad but so true. we see these things in every day life and yet we continue to ignore the risks, im just speaking of me. Much love Judy shirley harrison
judyanne

judyanne

16 years ago

hi shirley

thanks we don't have to tske the lessons until we're ready i'm afraid and often time's run out by the time we're ready then we have to come back and learn them all over again...... love judy xxx http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TwentyMyPrettyPonies.html
SH

shirley harrison

16 years ago

i could not have put it better my self!

I smoke alot more now being on Neo! but i do know people who have also died and were really sensible with not smoking not drinking not eating bad things and they died all the same. so although i know whats bad for me i get pleasure all the same. i know how i would like to go i hope it will come true!i jumped out of a plane for a childrens charity and im still here!!!!did land funny though!L:O:L much love shirley harrison
judyanne

judyanne

16 years ago

thank you raj

thanks for visiting and for the great comment love judy xxx http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/TwentyMyPrettyPonies.html