Twin Pack

Transformation,
black can become white
or
white become black.
Hard to recall now, those days when nicotine was unwelcome,
before exiled outside –
not furtive,
always owned up to
and no pretending not to.
The reign
of tobacco as king
and Queen princes and princesses eager to be inducted.
Cooler couldn’t be cool without glowing tip
clouds on planes, trains, movie theatres,
shopping malls,
teachers walked around school yards – fagging
while looking for smokers.

Apparently the biggest butt pain
wasn’t regulations or opprobrium
but bludging
some always ….
An old colleague told me about before he gave up
he carried two packs
the one in use
and one with just one
“sure,” cheerful and obliging … passing the dummy pack
“ no, no I couldn’t take the last one. ”
Worked every time he said