Carcinogens
A voluntary lapse of reason.
Written for the Real Poetic 'Anniversary' Challenge. Find all the details below.
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Addictions lurk, hiding behind every facade. and I see their persuasive glare, staring back like bold, tenacious stalkers,
not fazed by the restraining-order blocking their advances to devour lifespans.
naiveté; an innocent word, laid the foundation for greatest lies i ever did tell... placing me with the only facilitator
inclined to chaperone fragile minds—the wagon—dismisses many passengers who couldn't keep their seatbelts fastened,
vindicating excuses in a way that only evil conglomerates fiendishly appreciate, releasing
explicit farewells that dissolve in the midst of reflective ears...
return you will, to that black-lung masterpiece, that tarpit of comfort, oozing with shameless
shame, suffocating willpower with every drag, until won't-power is all that exhales...
a confrontation with self is a tug-of-war of fractured promises, clogging the mind in a noxious universe...
resting my eyes on the calendar, it's been a year, the air is pure and benign, yet the struggle remains...
yesterday deserves a prayer of thanks. today has only begun. slipping backwards… is always just a puff away.
A/N: Thankfully, I quit smoking tobacco over ten years ago. I’ll never forget the proud feeling of making it through that first year. Thank you for reading.
About the Creator
Lamar Wiggins
Creative writer in the Northeast US who loves the paranormal, mystery, true crime, horror, humor, fantasy and poetry. Take a chance, you'll be thoroughly entertained.
"Life is Love Experienced" -LW
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On Burning Bridges the Right Way
When one chooses or is forced to leave a group with which one has been associated for an extended period of time one of the most oft heard pieces of advice is how important it is that one "not burn any bridges" on their way out the door. This advice is said to apply no matter the circumstances (good, bad, or neutral) of ones leaving of the particular group. However, it is most often spoken of in the case of unfriendly or forced departures. In those instances, the idea is that the relationships (the bridges) one has nurtured within the group over time, are more important than any particular action(s) of any person(s) in the group that resulted in said individual being forced out against his or her will. In the case of large organizations it may be that the person(s) responsible for the forced ejection of the individual are very far removed from that persons actual day to day "life" in the organization, and thus do not have much of a relationship (bridge) to begin with, and thus would likely be at least partially exempt from the standard advice on the importance of not burning bridges. More commonly however, forcing an individual to leave a group against their will almost always requires the direct 'negative' intervention of one or more other individuals in the group that the leaver does know and usually knows very well. I use the word negative in this case only because from the perspective of the individual being forced to leave (the leaver) the outcome is (at least perceived to be) a negative. If it were not they would not protest at being asked/forced to leave. In most cases, the person being forced out of the group probably has some personal relationships with the persons whose interventions (whatever they may be) have in some way led to their forced departure from the group, and these relationships may have been positive, negative, or neutral from the leavers point of view.
By Everyday Junglist2 days ago in Humans
Comments (31)
Every line is brilliantly constructed, Lamar. Great job! Congrats on the Top Story. Very well deserved!
My stepfather was addicted to cigarettes for years...until he had a heart attack on the way to work. He survived, but I am not sure he is not still tempted by the Devil's stick!
Wow. Good for you! Congratulations!! That's a tough habit to kick. Also, this is amazing poetry.
congratulations!!
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Congrats on Top Story Lamar!! I've had this piece bookmarked since it popped up in my feed and it did not disappoint!! I love the direction you went wth the challenge and the story you were able to tell through an acrostic!! Very well done!!
Congratulations!! On top story and being free from smoking! I took know every inch of this feeling, and as someone who is two years free, it always is a puff away to picking up those chains!
Such a great tribute to a truly awesome achievement! LOVED this!
Happy 10-year Anniversary Lamar! And such a grand and memorable way to celebrate it. Congratulations Top Story-an!
Intriging lines!!! Loving it!!!❤️❤️💕 Congratulations on Top Story too!!!
andddd back to say congrats!
Very well written, with a punch in the message
Congrats on top story! And congrats on quitting smoking, my partner is attempting to quit currently and I will show her this poem! Thank you!
Congrats on Top Story - well deserved, Lamar!
Congratulations on 10 years and more to come! You're awesomeeee! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Your poem was so poignant and intense and most importantly soooo true! Loved your take on this challenge!
Loved the courage of this poem, Lamar. Quitting smoking is terribly hard to do! Congrats on 10 years clean and whole!
An addiction is an addiction, mine is food. So happy for you that you quit putting fire into your face. No matter what it is it is hard to overcome. So count yourself blessed. Great ode to quitting.
fabulous! fighting the beast of nicotine addiction myself. you inspire me!! so very well done ❤️
This is tremendous, Lamar! What a hard fought anniversary to celebrate! Such strong word choice and imagery! A monumental poem is a fitting piece for a monumental accomplishment!
Nicotine is a cruel mistress.
Wow, those feelings of quitting were breaking bad if you wrote such a powerful poem 10 years down the road, Lamar! Great that you stuck it out.
Loved your poem and so happy for you for quitting!! :)
Fab writing! Congrats on quitting smoking!
I love the clever turn of phrase: "willpower/won't-power" Well-wrought! Never did take to nicotine myself. Many I knew over the years told me it wasn't just the nicotine that was addictive but the habit of doing something with their hands. The distraction? I found that interesting. I suppose we all have our distractions, and some are healthier than others.
Such an anniversary is worth a pat on the back. Great interpretation of the challenge too Lamar