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Careers advice

by James Roome

Let’s imagine, for a moment, smoking is an animal. What kind of animal will it be?

Something violent and endangered, I think. A bizarre evolutionary
offshoot, e.g.:

  • an electric eel with venomous fangs and the mane of a lion;
  • a black rhino with the limbs of a newt.

Now, let’s suppose it has taken your tongue in its black lips and pulled
until you’re screaming on the floor, your mouth a bloody mess.

Why? Who knows. Perhaps it needs tongues for its children.

Next, let’s assign the tongue its standard symbolism: speech, language,
the power of expression.

And, let’s not forget, the tongue has a sexual connotation.

When smoking feeds your tongue to its children, how will you react?
What will it be robbing you of?

This is how it feels to work in advertising.

by James Roome

More Poetry

The Way I Flourish

Poems from Sheffield Flourish’s The Way I Flourish creative writing course, exploring themes of narrative, identity, journey and home.

Hymn

It’s one of those days where you’ve found God, finally.You’ve been heathen for weeks but now your body— its bumpy legs, its fingers grippin…

It’s one of those days where you’ve found God, finally.You’ve been heathen for weeks

but now your body— its bumpy legs, its fingers grippin

Sometimes It Helps

I rode around the garden today on a big white horse.I was naked except for sunglassesSometimes it helps.To feel extravagant and theatrical.D…

I rode around the garden today on a big white horse.I was naked except for sunglassesSometimes it helps.To feel extravagant and theatrical.D

Late Autumn Afternoon

‘Isn’t it dark outside?' you say, looking out the window from the settee that has itself known better days. Now it feels selfish to have op…

‘Isn’t it dark outside?' you say, looking out the window
from the settee that has itself known better days.
Now it feels selfish to have op
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