Joe's Cafe

mis spent youth

We played pinball in Joe's cafe
where cigarettes were sold
for ten pence a time,
no questions asked,
and Joe himself was considered cool
for the way he gave two fingers
to societies rules,
so we allowed him to corrupt our lungs
with nicotine,
paying for the privilege with
pocket money meant for sweets.
They closed him down eventually of course
guilty as he was of

the corruption of our youth
but we in our innocence felt aggrieved
for he had been a friend to all, hadn't he?
 
They call them 'shadows' on the lung,

small patches of lethal darkness,

old stains, spilt in the days
when we played pinball in joe's cafe
smoking cigarettes for ten pence a go
no questions asked

Reviews

[.]

~ haha... i remember this piece very well... my 13 year old mind was much like your 13 year old mind... and i am a smoker... i tend to remember cigarette poetry really well... which i shouldn't... :P

[...]

. "small patches of lethal darkness" is a brilliant expression ... this entire piece takes the reader for a trip to "Joe's Cafe" ... Joe must've seemed like quite a "cool" guy at the time ... it's interesting to look back at different experiences differently ... a very insightful piece of writing, dear shelley ...

[New Dawn]

Thanks Serah - to my 13 year old self Joe seemed very cool and was popular with all the local school kids. Its only in hindsight that i realise he encouraged us all to smoke to line his own pocket. Fortunately I had seen the error of my ways by the age of 15 , so no permanent damage - i hope :)

[...]

. i hope so too ... and, you're very welcome :) ...

[Speak in Silence]

This is great, good luck :)

[New Dawn]

Thank you - interesting contest:)

[Speak in Silence]

You're welcome, thanks :)