Smoke and Mirrors

On the cusp of summer's bloom, a day we set aside, 

To fight the creeping shadows, where health and hope have died. 

May's final light descends, a beacon in the fight, 

Against the smoke and mirrors, that dim life's precious light.

Once held a noble symbol, a comfort in the hand, 

A farmer's pipe, a sailor's friend, a bond across the land. 

But twisted by ambition, a weapon sharp and sly, 

A silent, slow assassin, with a profit in its eye.

The fragrant wisps of comfort, a mask for what's within,
A cocktail of carcinogens, a symphony of sin. 

It steals the breath from laughter, the song from every lung, 

Leaving whispers in its wake, and voices harshly rung.

The young, with minds impressionable, lured by a fleeting trend, 

A badge of cool rebellion, a story without end. 

They mimic what they witness, a habit quickly formed, 

Unaware of the shackles, a future yet unwarned.

But knowledge is our weapon, a shield against the smoke, 

To educate and empower, a choice we all invoke. 

Let's paint a vivid picture, the truth that lies unseen, 

The ravaged lungs, the labored breath, a future grim and mean.

Let parks and playgrounds blossom, with laughter light and free, 

Where children run and frolic, beneath a healthy tree. 

Let workplaces be a haven, from fumes that fill the air, 

A symphony of productivity, a breath of life to share.

For smokers trapped in habit, a hand we must extend, 

With empathy and guidance, a journey without end. 

Support, not scorn, the answer, to break the binding chain, 

To find a healthier solace, and feel the sun again.

On this Anti-Tobacco Day, a vow we all must make, 

To fight the silent villain, for every life's sweet sake. 

Let lungs breathe clear and healthy, let laughter fill the air, 

And break the smoke and mirrors, a future bright and fair.

We'll celebrate the victories, the lives we help to save, 

And watch a world transformed, a future strong and brave. 

For in the battle for our breath, there's victory to claim, 

On Anti-Tobacco Day, and forever in our name.