Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Put Down Your Cigarette Rag (Don’t Smoke)" by Allen Ginsberg is a relentless, rhythmic diatribe against smoking, using Ginsberg's characteristic mix of humor, sarcasm, and political commentary. The poem serves as both a public health warning and a critique of capitalist industries that profit from harmful products.

The poem opens with a direct and repetitive command: "Dont smoke dont smoke dont smoke / Dont smoke." This repetition establishes the urgency and insistence of Ginsberg's message. He frames smoking as a "nine billion dollar Capitalist Communist joke," criticizing both capitalist profit motives and the complicity of communist regimes in perpetuating harmful habits.

Ginsberg vividly describes the physical consequences of smoking: "Smoking makes you cough, / You cant sing straight / You gargle on saliva & vomit on your plate." This imagery is visceral, aiming to disgust and dissuade the reader from smoking. The poem's rapid, chant-like rhythm mirrors the relentless nature of smoking addiction and the pervasive advertising that encourages it.

The poem continues with a litany of scenarios where smoking is detrimental: "You smoke in bed / You smoke on the hill / Smoke till yr dead / You smoke in Hell." Ginsberg's hyperbolic scenarios emphasize the omnipresence and inevitability of smoking's negative outcomes. The refrain "Dont smoke dont smoke in living Hell" reinforces the idea that smoking leads to a personal and communal hell.

Ginsberg's use of the word "Dope" throughout the poem serves as a double entendre, referring to both nicotine and the foolishness of smoking. He critiques the marketing tactics of tobacco companies, accusing them of pushing a deadly product: "Nicotine Nicotine No / No dont smoke the official Dope." By calling nicotine the "official Dope," Ginsberg equates it with other illicit drugs, highlighting the hypocrisy of societal attitudes towards different substances.

The poet targets the economic and political structures that sustain the tobacco industry: "Nine billion bucks a year a Southern Industry / Buys Senator Jesse Fear who pushes Tobacco subsidy." Here, Ginsberg accuses politicians like Senator Jesse Helms of perpetuating tobacco use for financial gain, showing how deeply ingrained and protected the industry is within the political system.

Ginsberg's critique extends to societal norms and the role of media: "Nine billion bucks for dope approved by Time & Life / America loses hope The President smokes / Tobacco votes." He laments the normalization and endorsement of smoking by influential media and political figures, presenting it as a betrayal of public trust.

The poem also offers an alternative to smoking through intimate human connection: "If you will get in bed & give your girlfriend head / then you wont want a fag / Nor evermore a drag." By suggesting sexual intimacy as a healthier alternative to smoking, Ginsberg highlights the absurdity of choosing cigarettes over genuine human experiences.

In the concluding lines, Ginsberg's message becomes a plea: "O Please Dont Smoke Dont Smoke / O Please O Please O Please / I’m calling on my knees." This shift from commanding to pleading reflects a deep sense of urgency and concern. He advocates for a more fulfilling and smoke-free existence, urging readers to replace cigarettes with healthier habits: "suck tit suck tit suck cock suck cock / suck clit suck prick suck it / but dont smoke nicotine dont smoke / dont smoke nicotine nicotine it’s / too obscene dont smoke dont smoke / nicotine suck cock suck prick suck tit / suck clit suck it / But don’t smoke shit nope / nope nope nope Dope Dope Dope Dope / the official dope Dont Smoke."

"Put Down Your Cigarette Rag (Don’t Smoke)" is a multifaceted critique that combines public health advocacy with political and social commentary. Ginsberg's use of repetition, vivid imagery, and provocative language creates a powerful and memorable appeal against smoking, urging readers to reject harmful habits and embrace healthier, more authentic ways of living.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...