a reason to smoke

a man I know
got some
bad news
the doctor reported
he had hardening
of the arteries
appropriate for his age
61 & climbing
the news shook him
hit him
hard—he
fretted—sweated
gave up fat-sugar-caffeine
I offered him all the
comfort I could muster
told him
yes—you will
die
he laughed as he picked up his
gym bag & said
but not before you!
I lit another cigarette—shrugged
my shoulders

the tv doctored news
reported in ticker run headlines

Pakistan earthquake: 20,000 and climbing Darfur genocide: 400,000 and climbing Katrina hurricane: 1,242 and climbing Asian tsunami: 226,000 and climbing Iraq war: 2,166 and climbing (does not include Iraqi deaths) Mad Cows Bird Flu Aids Global Warming Nuclear Proliferation Killer Bees and Comments

I lit another cigarette—shrugged
my shoulders

psgates