Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE PHILOSOPHY OF SMOKE, by ANONYMOUS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE PHILOSOPHY OF SMOKE, by                    
First Line: "the meerschaum white, or the brown briar-root"
Last Line: "so put 'vogue' in your pipe and smoke it, friend"
Subject(s): Smoking; Tobacco;pipes;cigars;cigarettes


The Meerschaum white, or the brown briar-root—
How many phases of life they suit!
Good luck or bad luck, glory or gloom,
All tone to one colour—take one perfume,
If you've just "struck oil," and with pride run mad,
If you haven't a sou, and are bound to the bad—
Good luck may vanish, or bad luck mend:
Put each in your pipe and smoke it, friend!

If you love a Lady fair to view,
And she turns with a cold contempt from you,
While at your rival a smile she darts—
Walking with pride on a pathway of hearts,
Wrapt in her softness, dainty and nice,
Fire in her eyes, at her bosom ice—
In search of returns precious time why spend?
Put your love in your pipe and smoke it, friend!

If you climb the ladder of politics, where
Whose ascends breathes difficult air;
And, being highest of men of the time,
Are slightly elate with your seat sublime,
A little apt at yourself to wonder,
And mistake your own bray for real thunder;
Think how rockets rise and how sticks descend—
Put success in your pipe and smoke it, friend.

If Fame be your football, any day
A stronger player may kick it away.
Round you to-day lion-hunters smother;
Next week the Lion's skin goes to another.
From Popularity's box-seat hurled,
Lie still and see your successor purled.
A nine-days' wonder nine days will spend:
So put "vogue" in your pipe and smoke it, friend!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net