I chewed quite awhile but finally quit. It wasn't easy.
My dad chewed after quitting smoking. He was riding out to check pastures one day, pulled the lid off his chew can, started taking a pinch and got to thinkin', "This is really a nasty habit." He put the lid back on and tossed the can.
Awhile later I saw him riding in circles, in tall weeds, looking for that can of chew.
Dad has been gone for a long time. While thinking about that incident a few years ago, I wrote this poem.
HOOKED
I toss and turn, I can't sleep,
I get up and walk the floor.
I'm yearning, burning and craving,
I've never wanted anything more.
Serum of need courses through my veins,
tortured thoughts, in my head.
Devilish, aching, raging lust,
relentlessly drives me from my bed.
I try to clear my head with thinking,
of things like fun, drink and food.
Even thought of taking a cold shower,
but I knew it wouldn't do no good.
I want to do right, but guess I can't,
…Kind of like that Jekyll and Hyde.
Ol' monkey's scratching and clawing,
and my guts are churning inside.
This senseless desire is driving me crazy.
I know now just what I have to do.
I've got to go try to find the spot,
where I chucked that can of chew.