World No Tobacco Day

Tobacco, hateful, noxious weed*

Brought to the Old World from the New

For which King James I* had no need;

As Walt Raleigh bought potatoes too!

 

Big plantations, smart new rave

With sugar cane, brand-new cash crop

Unwitting adjunct to slave trade

Which over time makes pink lungs rot …

 

1960s - link with Cancer made

All trendy advertising banned:

Shades of ‘Marlboro Man’ now fade

World No Tobacco Day’s at hand!

 

Please, can we have a smoke-free day

And make this health threat take a hit?

Why socialise in wreaths of grey?

The Finger on the Wall has writ!

(c) Poet in the woods 2021

* quotation - also James VI of Scotland!

 World No Tobacco Day on 31st May (since 1987)