I had my first cigarette
At the age of twelve
In the summer of 67
I felt sick and unwell
And said to my mother
This could be the last time
At secondary school
We smoked and smoked and smoked
We got numerous hidings
And slaps of the leather
But we promised the priests
This could be the last time
Our blond Irish teacher
She smoked; Imagine
We bought her 200 at Christmas
We said to her longingly
This could be the last time
Now I’m a doctor
So I’ve had to give up
I said to a patient
Could I bum a fag
This could be the last time
My wife was kind
Kept me on the straight and narrow
But the mother-in-law came to stay
So back on the fags I went
I said to the wife
This could be the last time
At the Stones in 2007 at Slane
A friendly face offered a fag
I said tanks but no tanks
And the band played fiercely
This could be the last time
Maybe the last time
I don’t know
Oh, no.
15.02.2024
