Curious when Dad placed
a pinch of Copenhagen between
his lip and gum

Asked me, “Try some?”
Put the snus in my mouth and advised
“Don’t swallow it”

No sooner spoke those words
than i choked, sending
that sweet moist tobacco down my throat

Promptly turned grasshopper green &
puked on the kitchen floor—
My gawd, never been that sick before

     No more tobacco for me


*I was eight years old at the time