Can you exhale a good breath?
Or can I inhale a good breath?
Let your conscience prick you
For your family has leaned on you.

Let not your health be spoilt.
Let not your folks cry on coffin pit.
Remind yourself of your wedlock vows
To remain moral to your dear spouse.

Smoky Solomon! I can't see you.
Put it out. Cloudy smokes around you.
Are you fiery? Feared? Get away.
Before that devil clamps, run away.

Count down your cigar to nil.
Not your life to nil.
Do not get smoked being smoky.
Let your family with you be lucky.

Indira Renganathan
Profile of the author
Published on July 5^th 2006