Nominated! all I can say Ms. Hannah <3

Cancer is something that is not ambiguous. It is a killer of many people. The imagery here is detailed so well that you can see the poem enfold right in front of my eyes. Each stanza connects so well and jumps from one scene to the next like it was in real life. I loved how you used gaze. With eyes you can tell many different emotions and they really do tell a story. I have always wondered what a depressing smile is like. Who knows. But the poem seems to be simply about a person who has smoked most of their life and now is suffering from lung cancer... And with the smoking they know they will die so they want to enjoy it while they can. Plus the smoking seems to be the guys way to cope (ironically). Excellent write!

I can't fault this at all. Great job!

I am not surprised that this poem won. When you first sent it to me for the challenge, it felt like a winner. I was expecting a poem filled with details of cancer, and long thoughts and feelings towards it, or the affects it has on people/family etc.

However, you kept your poem so brief, and simple, so short with your trademark, eye-catching stanzas, and yet you managed to say so much!

My gaze insinuated my
disapproval -

^^
Wow! I love how you worded this! Portraying the message with a look instead of speech. Works really well and I can just imagine the type of look this would be.

In some ways, this poem makes you angry towards the person, because they are not helping themselves in any way, by continuing to smoke. however, on the other hand, that last stanza is somewhat really sad. It is like he has given up already on life before even attempted to fight. This, I know is a problem people face when they are diagnosed with cancer, they feel so lost, confused and alone, that they no longer feel there is a point in trying.
But again, it is sad for the people around them to witness this attitude.

Such a very powerful write Hannah.
Thanks for sharing.

And Congrats!

Nice poem. real different and meaningful

Succinct yet powerful portrayal of cancer. More powerful I think for its understated nature. Great write. :)

Judging comment:

The reality of this addiction is covered so well here, and it makes my heart ache for those battling it, and feeling they are tied to it and cannot recover, or don't find the worth in it. You introduce this man and his actions and though he is a stranger to me, I feel sorrow. I like how you also show the reader, and I can imagine him and the ashtray, almost as if he reveres it and they have a companionship. Though the relationship you have with this man is not mentioned, it makes me think he is someone you have known and care deeply for. That you already know his story, don't have to criticize since he realizes what you mean with that one look. That this is never what you wanted for him. The effect of having just one line of dialogue at the end make it more painstakingly real, that he feels this is all there is, and what is the point when he's already done so much damage? Sad piece indeed. (7)

Top poem in my opinion on the subject of Cancer!
Hannah has penned the true look at the addiction of smoking, what it can lead to (cause and effect) and how after diagnosis, the person feels in regards to smoking. It's written in an excellent way and I very much admire this piece, well done by Hannah this week!

Holy shit.
I love this poem, you have no idea...

I don't smoke, never have but everyone i know does. Every person that comes over, i have 3 ashtrays outside because I have so many smokers that visit me...

Cancer is horrible and i like how you played it as an undertone instead of the overall feeling.

Good job.

This is bloody perfect as a just put out a fag in my tortes shell thats not sun bleached, but near the shade of petrified white. 5/5