Will Not Affect Your Throat

I know you’re all
too young to recall
when smoking was good for you.

But way back,
during World War 2,
Craven A cigarettes

(‘Will Not Affect Your Throat’
and even
‘For Your Throat’s Sake’)

were donated to the war effort
and formed part of a soldier’s rations.

It was in the days of
stiff upper lips
and pull your socks up.

If you swore
your mum would wash your mouth out with soap
or salt.

And if you couldn’t ‘cut the mustard’
well, there was no doubt about it,
- it was your own damn fault.