Heartache

By Emily Hills

Before there ever was a me
Or my little sisters three
For his easy comfort he
Would sit and light it up

He used to always be on stage
Acting parts with inner rage
Even though he’s underage
He’d sit and light it up

There he met a pretty girl
With dark brown eyes and silken curl
Even deep in loves sweet whirl
He’d sit and light it up

It wasn’t long till they were wed
And all the I love yous were said
And even in his new wife’s bed
He’d sit and light it up

Shortly after nine months time
A little girl with lips of rhyme
Held in his arms, he told her I’m
Never smoking again

They lived happily for 12 long years
With many fights and many tears
When they granted her worst fear
Daddy and mommy got divorced

How to deal with all the stress
How to get up out of this mess
Somehow he thought it best
To start lighting it up

He was sorry for awhile
Smelly breath and yellow smile
Smoking was coming back in style
He’d sit and light it up

With cigarette held between his lips
He would often giver her tips
I swear I’ll break you finger tips
If I ever see you doing this
Then one Christmas he got sick
Tar in his lungs was dark and thick
So he said he’d quit it quick
I’ll never smoke again

And so a few months hurried by
His addiction he’d deny
But sill his promise was a lie
I’ll never smoke again

We were at my Aunt’s place
Held a lit cig to his face
Empty hole he would replace
I’ll start lighting it up

She couldn’t believe how disappointed
His thinking was so disjointed
Though it’s true she wasn’t appointed
Tell him never smoke again

It was one or two packs a day
Smoking his sweet life away
His habit knew no other way
He’d sit and light it up

Even after problems came
The cigarettes couldn’t be to blame
And still he’d always do the same
He’d sit and light it up

Off one day at school to learn
And a decent grade to earn
He felt a little “heart burn”
He sat and lit it up

When it wouldn’t go away
Clearly it was here to stay
Looking back one could say
He had a little heartache

Then there came that frightening day
The ambulance carried him away
What was there left to say
But I told you so

His life flashed before his eyes
His girls in black on bended knee cry
While she hollers to the sky
Why didn’t he listen to me?!

We stayed by him for several weeks
While the LCD recorded peaks
Then the promise once more he speaks
I’ll never smoke again

The last time it wasn’t fake
God wasn’t kidding make no mistake
It was your wake up call he hoped you’d take
Suffer a little heartache