Classic and Contemporary Poetry
MY THREE LOVES, by HENRY SAMBROOKE LEIGH Poet's Biography First Line: When life was all a summer day Last Line: My pipe, cigar, and cigarette. Subject(s): Smoking; Tobacco; Pipes; Cigars; Cigarettes | ||||||||
When Life was all a summer day, And I was under twenty, Three loves were scattered in my way And three at once are plenty. Three hearts, if offered with a grace, One thinks not of refusing, The task in this especial case Was only that of choosing: I knew not which to make my pet My pipe, cigar, or cigarette. To cheer my night or glad my day My pipe was ever willing; The meerschaum or the lowly clay Alike repaid the filling. Grown men delight in blowing clouds, As boys in blowing bubbles, Our cares to puff away in crowds, And banish all our troubles. My pipe I nearly made my pet, Above cigar or cigarette. A tiny paper, tightly rolled About some Latakia, Contains within its magic fold A mighty panacea. Some thought of sorrow or of strife At ev'ry whiff will vanish; And all the scenery of life Turn picturesquely Spanish. But still I could not quite forget Cigar and pipe for cigarette. To yield an after-dinner puff O'er demi-tasse and brandy, No cigarettes are strong enough, No pipes are ever handy. However fine may be the feed, It only moves my laughter Unless a dry delicious weed Appears a little after. A prime cigar I firmly set Above a pipe or cigarette. But, after all, I try in vain To fetter my opinion; Since each upon my giddy brain Has boasted a dominion. Comparisons I'll not provoke, Lest all should be offended. Let this discussion end in smoke, As many more have ended. And each I'll make a special pet; My pipe, cigar, and cigarette. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ONE LAST DRAW OF THE PIPE by PAUL MULDOON CHANEL NO. 5 by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR OLD MEN ON THE COURTHOUSE LAWN, MURRAY, KENTUCKY by JAMES GALVIN DOWN BY THE CARIB SEA: 2. LOS CIGARILLOS by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON THE TWINS by HENRY SAMBROOKE LEIGH |
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