A Close Encounter
“Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!” “Roger. What’s your position, Sir?”
“I’m afraid it’s very grave, there’s such a haze, all’s a blur.”
“Smoke’s been filling up inside, I’m really in quite a stew,
I’m having trouble breathing, and I don’t know what to do.”
“Roger. Can you contain it?” “I’m afraid not, it’s pouring in,
I have a loss of power, oxygen’s becoming thin.
I’m feeling very poorly, this smoke has a horrid smell,
It feels like it’s attacking every organ and each cell.”
“Roger. You must fight it, Sir, we’ll do our best to help you,
But speaking very frankly, there’s not a lot we can do.
I’m afraid that in the end it’ll really come down to you,
You’ve got to get a grip, Sir, do whatever you can do.”
“My head is feeling foggy, I’m coughing badly also,
My thinking and my actions are all beginning to slow.
I’m feeling indecisive, it’s taken a hold of me,
It seems I’m losing control, I’m spaced-out and headachy.”
“Roger. Try and hold on, Sir, we’re getting a picture now,
It’s still somewhat hazy though, but we will get there somehow.
It’s clear you’re being poisoned, infiltrated chemically,
Thus, it’s hardly any wonder we’re hearing your urgent plea.”
“Yes, things certainly are grim, and a way out I can’t see,
I hope you’ll find an answer, for I need one urgently.
I fear I’m going to crash, possibly asphyxiate,
I’m really in deep trouble, I think it may be too late.”
“Wait, Sir! It seems we’ve solved it, the picture’s clearer now,
Yes! You can still save yourself, for we’ve just figured out how.
If you do the following, there’ll be a quick turnabout:
Just muster up all your strength, and pull that cigarette out!”
By Lance Landall
