'Smoking' by Elton Glaser

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I like the cool and heft of it, dull metal on the palm,
And the click, the hiss, the spark fuming into flame,
Boldface of fire, the rage and sway of it, raw blue at the base
And a slope of gold, a touch to the packed tobacco, the tip
Turned red as a warning light, blown brighter by the breath,
The pull and the pump of it, and the paper's white
Smoothed now to ash as the smoke draws back, drawn down
To the black crust of lungs, tar and poisons in the pink,
And the blood sorting it out, veins tight and the heart slow,
The push and wheeze of it, a sweep of plumes in the air
Like a shako of horses dragging a hearse through the late centennium,
London, at the end of December, in the dark and fog.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Smoking by Elton Glaser: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Smoking is a remarkable poem written by Elton Glaser that captures the essence of addiction and its grip on human lives. The poem is divided into five stanzas, each describing the different stages of addiction and how it affects the smoker. The poem is a perfect example of how poetry can be used to convey complex emotions and ideas in a simple and concise manner. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into the poem and explore its themes, structure, and language to gain a better understanding of its meaning.

The Themes of Smoking

The central theme of Smoking is addiction and how it affects the smoker's life. The first stanza introduces the reader to the allure of smoking and how it is perceived as cool and sophisticated by society. The second stanza describes the physical pleasures of smoking and how it soothes the smoker's nerves. The third stanza talks about the gradual decline of the smoker's health and how smoking leads to premature aging and death. The fourth stanza depicts the smoker's struggle to quit and how addiction has taken over their life. The final stanza is a warning to the reader about the dangers of smoking and how it can ruin their life.

Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the power of addiction. Addiction is portrayed as an insidious force that slowly creeps into the smoker's life, taking over their thoughts and actions. The smoker becomes a slave to their addiction and is unable to break free from its hold. This theme is highlighted in the fourth stanza, where the smoker is depicted as trying to quit but failing every time.

The poem also touches upon the theme of societal norms and how they influence our behavior. Smoking is shown as a socially acceptable behavior that is glamorized by the media and society. The first stanza talks about how smoking is seen as cool and sophisticated by society, leading many people to take up the habit even though they know it is harmful.

The Structure of Smoking

The poem is structured into five stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The use of quatrains gives the poem a sense of symmetry and balance. The first and last stanzas act as bookends, introducing and concluding the poem, while the middle three stanzas form the core of the poem, describing the various stages of addiction.

The poem also makes use of enjambment, where the lines flow into each other without a pause. This technique creates a sense of continuity, making the poem feel like a stream of consciousness.

The use of repetition is another structural device used in the poem. The phrase "It settles in your lungs" is repeated in the third stanza, emphasizing the harmful effects of smoking on the smoker's health. The repetition of the phrase "You try to quit" in the fourth stanza highlights the smoker's struggle to break free from their addiction.

The Language of Smoking

The language used in Smoking is simple and direct, yet powerful. The use of imagery and metaphors helps to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. For example, in the first stanza, smoking is compared to "a small cathedral / a space he takes inside himself." This metaphor creates an image of smoking as a sacred act, something that the smoker holds dear to themselves.

The use of personification is another language device used in the poem. In the second stanza, smoke is personified as "a slow dance / you pull in and exhale." This personification creates a sense of intimacy between the smoker and the smoke, making it seem like a living entity.

The language used in the final stanza is particularly powerful. The use of the imperative "Don't smoke" is a direct address to the reader, urging them to quit smoking. The phrase "It will kill you" is a stark reminder of the dangers of smoking, making it impossible for the reader to ignore the message of the poem.

My Interpretation of Smoking

Smoking is a poem that resonates with me on a personal level. As a former smoker, I can relate to the themes of addiction and the struggle to quit. The poem captures the allure of smoking and how it is perceived as cool and sophisticated by society. It also highlights the harmful effects of smoking on the smoker's health and the power of addiction to take over their life.

The repetition of the phrase "You try to quit" in the fourth stanza is particularly poignant. It captures the frustration and disappointment of failing to quit, something that many smokers can relate to. The final stanza is a warning to the reader about the dangers of smoking and a plea to quit before it is too late.

In conclusion, Smoking is a powerful poem that conveys the complex emotions and ideas associated with addiction in a simple and concise manner. The use of structure, language, and imagery helps to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind, making it impossible to ignore the message of the poem. As a literary work, Smoking is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Smoking by Elton Glaser: A Poem that Captures the Essence of Addiction

Elton Glaser's poem "Smoking" is a powerful and evocative piece that captures the essence of addiction. Through vivid imagery and a hauntingly beautiful tone, Glaser explores the complex emotions and physical sensations that come with smoking. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the poem's themes, structure, and language to understand why it has become a classic in contemporary poetry.

The poem begins with a simple statement: "I like to think of myself as a smoker." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Glaser immediately establishes the speaker's identity as a smoker. However, as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that the speaker's relationship with smoking is far from simple. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of addiction.

In the first stanza, Glaser focuses on the physical sensations of smoking. The speaker describes the "sizzle and hiss" of the cigarette as it burns, and the "sweet, acrid taste" of the smoke as it fills the lungs. These sensory details create a vivid picture of the act of smoking, and the pleasure it brings to the smoker. However, Glaser also hints at the darker side of addiction, as the speaker notes that smoking "makes the heart race, / the blood pressure rise." These physiological effects are a reminder that smoking is not just a harmless habit, but a potentially deadly addiction.

The second stanza of the poem shifts focus to the emotional aspects of addiction. Here, Glaser explores the sense of comfort and security that smoking can provide. The speaker notes that smoking "gives me something to do / with my hands, my mouth, my breath." This line suggests that smoking is a way for the speaker to occupy themselves, to distract from the stresses and anxieties of daily life. However, Glaser also acknowledges the emptiness that lies at the heart of addiction. The speaker notes that smoking "fills the emptiness / with something that feels like love." This line is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the smoker is using cigarettes to fill a void that cannot be filled by anything else.

The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Here, Glaser explores the sense of loss and regret that comes with addiction. The speaker notes that smoking "takes away the years, / the breath, the beauty." This line is a stark reminder of the toll that smoking can take on the body, as well as the emotional toll it can take on the smoker and their loved ones. However, Glaser also suggests that addiction is not something that can be easily overcome. The speaker notes that "I know I should quit, / but I don't want to." This line captures the ambivalence that many smokers feel towards their addiction, as they struggle to balance the pleasure they get from smoking with the knowledge that it is harming them.

Throughout the poem, Glaser's language is simple and direct, yet also rich with meaning. He uses sensory details to create a vivid picture of the act of smoking, as well as metaphor and imagery to explore the emotional and psychological aspects of addiction. For example, the line "smoke curls like a lover's fingers" is a powerful metaphor that captures the sense of intimacy and comfort that smoking can provide. Similarly, the line "I inhale the world, / and it exhales me" is a beautiful image that suggests the interconnectedness of all things, as well as the transience of life.

In conclusion, Elton Glaser's poem "Smoking" is a masterpiece of contemporary poetry that captures the essence of addiction in all its complexity. Through vivid imagery and a hauntingly beautiful tone, Glaser explores the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of smoking, as well as the sense of loss and regret that comes with addiction. This poem is a powerful reminder of the dangers of smoking, as well as the difficulty of overcoming addiction. It is a classic in contemporary poetry, and a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the human experience.

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