Tobacco Next

By Richard Le Gallienne

Satirical
    They took away your drink from you,     The kind old humanizing glass;     Soon they will take tobacco too,     And next they'll take our demi-tasse.     Don't say, "The bill will never pass,"     Nor this my warning word disdain;     You said it once, you silly ass -     Don't make the same mistake again.     We know them now, the bloodless crew,     We know them all too well, alas!     There's nothing that they wouldn't do     To make the world a Bible class;     Though against bottled beer or Bass     I search the sacred text in vain     To find a whisper - by the Mass!     Don't make the same mistake again.     Beware these legislators blue,     Pouring their moral poison-gas     On all the joys our fathers knew;     The very flowers in the grass     Are safe no more, and, lad and lass,     'Ware the old birch-rod and the cane!     Here comes our modern Hudibras! -     Don't make the same mistake again.     ENVOI     Prince, vanished is the rail of brass,     So mark me well and my refrain -     Tobacco next! you silly ass,     Don't make the same mistake again.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a scathing critique of the dangers of unchecked government power, employing a satirical tone to warn against the erosion of individual freedoms. The poem's structure, with its irregular meter and short, punchy lines, mirrors the speaker's frantic and urgent tone. The use of rhyme, while inconsistent, adds to the sense of desperation and warning, particularly in the repetition of the phrase Don't make the same mistake again. The voice is that of a concerned citizen, addressing a friend or loved one, but also drawing attention to the broader societal implications of the speaker's warnings. A structural turn occurs in the final stanza, where the speaker shifts from addressing a specific individual to addressing a broader audience, invoking the figure of Hudibras, a 17th-century satirical poet, to emphasize the gravity of the situation. The tone darkens, and the language becomes more menacing, warning of the moral poison-gas and birch-rod that threatens to destroy the very fabric of society. The final line, Tobacco next! you silly ass, / Don't make the same mistake again, drives home the speaker's warning, underscoring the idea that the erosion of freedoms will continue unabated unless individuals take action to prevent it.

Understanding Satirical Poetry

Satirical poems use wit, irony, exaggeration, and ridicule to expose folly—personal, social, or political. The aim isn’t just laughter: it’s critique that nudges readers toward insight or change.

Common characteristics of satirical poetry:

  • Targeted Critique: Focuses on specific behaviors, institutions, or ideas—often timely, sometimes timeless.
  • Tools of Irony: Uses sarcasm, parody, understatement, and hyperbole to sharpen the point.
  • Voice & Persona: Speakers may be unreliable or exaggerated to reveal contradictions and hypocrisy.
  • Form Flexibility: Appears in couplets, tercets, quatrains, blank verse, or free verse—music serves the mockery.
  • Moral Pressure: Beneath the humor lies ethical pressure—satire seeks reform, not merely amusement.
  • Public & Personal: Can lampoon public figures and trends or needle private vanities and everyday pretenses.

The best satire balances bite with craft: memorable lines that entertain while revealing the gap between how things are and how they ought to be.