Obsessed of late with someone’s stricken lung,
impressed with every pulmonary fact
I have to learn, has given wisdom tongue
I hear, who’s known for years that I’ve ransacked
with smoking arrogance my breathing tree.

Tobacco first and then the weed I’d score,
I fired and inhaled so lustily,
I learned to cough and yearly to ignore
the signs my body gave to modify.

I’m smart, but I suppressed intelligence.
I bargained when too ill to quick-deny
the logic, science, choking evidence.
I’m lucky I’ve so far avoided death.
I promise now I’ll concentrate on breath.