World No Tobacco Day – A Haiku

MY MINERVA MOMENT
A HAIKU TO COMMEMORATE THE MOMENT I QUIT SMOKING
By
VIKRAM KARVE 

Conquering an Addiction is like attaining Freedom from Bondage.

I quit smoking 17 years ago – in the year 2002. '

Here is a Haiku I wrote many years ago – to celebrate the moment I quit smoking – and – to describe my freedom from the bondage of smoke rings.

MY MINERVA MOMENT 

 

smoke rings

chains of bondage

like handcuffs

fresh breeze

smoke rings dissolve

I am free

Oh Yes – Dear Reader – this is exactly what I felt like when I freed myself from the smoking habit – conquering an addiction is like freedom from bondage. 

In case you are a smoker and you want to quit smoking – here is the link to my article on HOW TO QUIT SMOKING IN 3 SIMPLE STEPS (WITHOUT WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS) 

url: https://karve.wordpress.com/2019/05/30/how-to-quit-smoking-world-no-tobacco-day-blog-post/

You can use this 3 Stage de-addiction technique to conquer other addictions as well.

Do comment and tell me if you liked the Haiku and the self help article.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. The self help article mentioned in the blog post above is based on my personal experience. It may or may not work for you. So please do due diligence before trying out this technique.

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

 

I have posted this Haiku online a number of times including at urls: http://vwkarve.blogspot.in/2006/06/haiku-minerva-moment-by-vikram-karve.html  and  https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/07/haiku-my-minerva-moment.html?m=0  and  https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/03/my-minerva-moment-smoke-rings-dissolve.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/10/my-minerva-moment-haiku-to-commemorate.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2017/02/my-minerva-moment-haiku.html   etc 

War Poem for Jingoistic “Armchair Generals” – Dulce et Decorum est

When I watch jingoistic war-mongering on TV debates – I am reminded of this war poem...

DULCE ET DECORUM EST

A WAR POEM FOR “ARMCHAIR GENERALS” and JINGOISTS

Ramblings of a Retired Veteran

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Here is a poem by Wilfred Owen I read in school – the poem is about the horrors of war and was written during the First World War (when Chlorine Gas was used as a weapon).

Nevertheless – this classic piece of war poetry is relevant even today – where soldiers continue to die every day – and jingoists – who may not have seen a shot fired in anger – continue to exhort soldiers to die for their country – while they themselves remain safely ensconced in their homes.

DULCE ET DECORUM EST

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,

Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,

Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs

And towards our distant rest began to trudge.

Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots

But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;

Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots 

Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.

Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling,

Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;

But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,

And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime . . .

Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light,

As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,

He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace

Behind the wagon that we flung him in,

And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,

His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;

If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood

Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,

Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud 

Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest 

To children ardent for some desperate glory,

The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori

Wilfred Owen

8 October 1917 - March, 1918

From the War Poetry  Website: http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/owen1.html

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

“DULCE ET DECORUM EST” are the first words of a Latin saying (taken from an ode by Horace).

The words were widely understood and often quoted at the start of the First World War.

They mean “It is sweet and right”

The full saying ends the poem:

“Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori”

(It is sweet and right to die for your country)

In other words:

It is a wonderful and great honour to fight and die for your country.

The poet calls this “THE OLD LIE”

Do you agree...?

Is it right for jingoistic politicians, “armchair generals”, media-persons, veterans, academicians, journalists, bureaucrats and assorted civilians to indulge in warmongering – and exhort the soldier to die for his country – while they themselves are safely ensconced in their offices and homes – in peaceful places like Delhi and Mumbai – far away from combat zones...? 

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. This story is a fictional spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.

2. All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

 

This is a revised repost of my blog post DULCE ET DECORUM EST A WAR POEM FOR “ARMCHAIR GENERALS” and JINGOISTS written by me Vikram Karve more then 4 years ago in 2013/2014 and posted online in my blog at urls: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/10/a-war-poem-for-armchair-generals.html  and  http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/02/dulce-et-decorum-est-war-poem-for.html  etc

My Minerva Moment – A Haiku

MY MINERVA MOMENT
A HAIKU TO COMMEMORATE THE MOMENT I QUIT SMOKING
By
VIKRAM KARVE

I feel quite sad – when I see so many individuals addicted to things like tobacco and alcohol. 

I know a doctor who smokes. 

He knows that smoking is injurious to health – but he just cannot stop smoking.

Another acquaintance of mine who is showing signs of becoming alcohol dependent just cannot quit drinking – despite everyone telling him that if he does not quit drinking alcohol – he soon maybe on the road to alcoholism.

There are some individuals who are addicted to gambling.

But they cannot stop gambling – though they know that gambling can ruin their lives. 

It is frequently reported on TV that drug addition is on the rise too.

There are so many bad habits, vices and addictions.

Conquering an Addiction is like attaining Freedom from Bondage.

I quit smoking and drinking 15 years ago – in the year 2002. 

For many years now – every year, on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day (31 May) – I re-post a self help article I had written long back titled HOW TO QUIT SMOKING – in which I describe how I quit smoking and give a simple 3 step technique to quit smoking forever which is breathtaking in its simplicity.

In case you want to read this self help article on HOW TO QUIT SMOKING just click the url link given below:-
http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/05/world-no-tobacco-day-blog-post-how-to.html

(I have also given the link at the end of the post for your convenience – the link will open in a new window – so you can continue reading this post first and then go on to the article) 

But before you read that blog post – please read the Haiku below – titled “My Minerva Moment” – a Haiku I wrote many years ago – to celebrate the moment I quit smoking – and – to describe my freedom from the bondage of smoke rings.

MY MINERVA MOMENT 

 

smoke rings

chains of bondage

like handcuffs

fresh breeze

smoke rings dissolve

I am free

Oh Yes – Dear Reader – this is exactly what I felt like when I freed myself from the smoking habit – conquering an addiction is like freedom from bondage.

Now please click the link below to read about the Three Stage Technique on How to Quit Smoking

HOW TO QUIT SMOKING

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/05/world-no-tobacco-day-blog-post-how-to.html

You can use this de-addiction technique to conquer other addictions as well.

Do comment and tell me if you liked the Haiku and the self help article.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. The self help article mentioned in the blog post above is based on my personal experience. It may or may not work for you. So please do due diligence before trying out this technique.

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

 

I have posted this Haiku online a number of times including at urls: http://vwkarve.blogspot.in/2006/06/haiku-minerva-moment-by-vikram-karve.html  and  https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2011/07/haiku-my-minerva-moment.html?m=0  and  https://karvediat.blogspot.in/2012/03/my-minerva-moment-smoke-rings-dissolve.html  and http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/10/my-minerva-moment-haiku-to-commemorate.html  etc 

MY MINERVA MOMENT – A Haiku to Commemorate the Moment I Quit Smoking

MY MINERVA MOMENT
A HAIKU TO COMMEMORATE THE MOMENT I QUIT SMOKING
By
VIKRAM KARVE

I feel quite sad when I see so many individuals addicted to things like tobacco and alcohol. 

I know a doctor who smokes. 

He knows that smoking is injurious to health, but he just cannot stop smoking.

Another acquaintance of mine who is showing signs of becoming alcohol dependent just cannot quit drinking, despite everyone telling him that if he does not quit drinking alcohol, he soon maybe on the road to alcoholism.

There are some who are addicted to gambling.

But they cannot stop gambling, though they know that gambling can ruin their lives.

There are so many bad habits, vices and addictions.

Conquering an addiction is like attaining freedom from bondage.

More than 12 years ago I quit smoking and drinking. 

For many years now, every year, on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day (31 May) I re-post a self help article I had written long back titled HOW TO QUIT SMOKING in which I describe how I quit smoking and give a simple 3 step technique to quit smoking forever which is breathtaking in its simplicity.

In case you want to read this self help article on HOW TO QUIT SMOKING just click the url link given below.

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/05/quit-smoking-on-world-no-tobacco-day.html

(I have also given the link at the end of the post for your convenience – the link will open in a new window, so you can continue reading this post first and then go on to the article) 

But before you read that blog post, please read the Haiku below titled “My Minerva Moment” I wrote many years ago to celebrate the moment I quit smoking and to describe my freedom from the bondage of smoke rings.

MY MINERVA MOMENT 

 

smoke rings

chains of bondage

like handcuffs

fresh breeze

smoke rings dissolve

I am free

Oh yes, Dear Reader, this is exactly what I felt like when I freed myself from the smoking habit – conquering an addiction is like freedom from bondage.

Now please click the link below to read about the Three Stage Technique on How to Quit Smoking

HOW TO QUIT SMOKING

http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2014/05/quit-smoking-on-world-no-tobacco-day.html

You can use this de-addiction technique to conquer other addictions as well.

Do comment and tell me if you liked the Haiku and the self help article.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.

Disclaimer:

1. The self help article mentioned in the blog post above is based on my personal experience. It may or may not work for you. So please do due diligence before trying out this technique.

2. All stories in this blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the story are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice:

No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.

Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)

DULCE ET DECORUM EST - A WAR POEM FOR “ARMCHAIR GENERALS” and JINGOISTS

DULCE ET DECORUM EST

A WAR POEM FOR “ARMCHAIR GENERALS” and JINGOISTS

Ramblings of a Retired Veteran

By

VIKRAM KARVE

Here is a poem by Wilfred Owen I read in school – the poem is about the horrors of war and was written during the First World War (when Chlorine Gas was used as a weapon).

Nevertheless, this classic piece of war poetry is relevant even today where soldiers continue to die every day and jingoists who may not have seen a shot fired in anger continue to exhort soldiers to die for their country while they themselves remain safely ensconced in their homes.

DULCE ET DECORUM EST

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,

Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,

Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs

And towards our distant rest began to trudge.

Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots

But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;

Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots 

Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.

Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling,

Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;

But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,

And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime . . .

Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light,

As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,

He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace

Behind the wagon that we flung him in,

And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,

His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;

If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood

Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,

Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud 

Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest 

To children ardent for some desperate glory,

The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori

Wilfred Owen

8 October 1917 - March, 1918

From the War Poetry Website: http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/owen1.html

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

“DULCE ET DECORUM EST” are the first words of a Latin saying (taken from an ode by Horace).

The words were widely understood and often quoted at the start of the First World War.

They mean “It is sweet and right”

The full saying ends the poem:

“Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori”

(It is sweet and right to die for your country)

In other words:

It is a wonderful and great honour to fight and die for your country.

The poet calls this “THE OLD LIE”

Do you agree?

Is it right for politicians, media-persons, journalists, bureaucrats, “armchair generals” and assorted civilians to indulge in jingoism and exhort the soldier to die for his country, while they themselves are safely ensconced in their offices and homes in peaceful places like Delhi and Mumbai, far away from combat zones?