February 22, 2015, 10:37 AM
Jaywendland1981A poem by Rudyard Kipling about cigars, Michael Berry read this on his radio show Friday, I thought it was funny.
The Betrothed
“You must choose between me and your cigar.” Breach of Promise Case, circa, 1885
OPEN the old cigar-box, get me a Cuba stout,
For things are running crossways, and Maggie and I are out.
We quarrelled about Havanas—we fought o’er a good cheroot,
And I know she is exacting, and she says I am a brute.
Open the old cigar-box—let me consider a space; 5
In the soft blue veil of the vapour musing on Maggie’s face.
Maggie is pretty to look at—Maggie’s a loving lass,
But the prettiest cheeks must wrinkle, the truest of loves must pass.
There’s peace in a Laranaga, there’s calm in a Henry Clay;
But the best cigar in an hour is finished and thrown away— 10
Thrown away for another as perfect and ripe and brown—
But I could not throw away Maggie for fear o’ the talk o’ the town!
Maggie, my wife at fifty—grey and dour and old—
With never another Maggie to purchase for love or gold!
And the light of Days that have Been the dark of the Days that Are, 15
And Love’s torch stinking and stale, like the butt of a dead cigar—
The butt of a dead cigar you are bound to keep in your pocket—
With never a new one to light tho’ it’s charred and black to the socket!
Open the old cigar-box—let me consider a while.
Here is a mild Manilla—there is a wifely smile. 20
Which is the better portion—bondage bought with a ring,
Or a harem of dusky beauties fifty tied in a string?
Counsellors cunning and silent—comforters true and tried,
And never a one of the fifty to sneer at a rival bride?
Thought in the early morning, solace in time of woes, 25
Peace in the hush of the twilight, balm ere my eyelids close,
This will the fifty give me, asking nought in return,
With only a Suttee’s passion—to do their duty and burn.
This will the fifty give me. When they are spent and dead,
Five times other fifties shall be my servants instead. 30
The furrows of far-off Java, the isles of the Spanish Main,
When they hear my harem is empty will send me my brides again.
I will take no heed to their raiment, nor food for their mouths withal,
So long as the gulls are nesting, so long as the showers fall.
I will scent ’em with best vanilla, with tea will I temper their hides, 35
And the Moor and the Mormon shall envy who read of the tale of my brides.
For Maggie has written a letter to give me my choice between
The wee little whimpering Love and the great god Nick o’ Teen.
And I have been servant of Love for barely a twelvemonth clear,
But I have been Priest of Cabanas a matter of seven year; 40
And the gloom of my bachelor days is flecked with the cheery light
Of stumps that I burned to Friendship and Pleasure and Work and Fight.
And I turn my eyes to the future that Maggie and I must prove,
But the only light on the marshes is the Will-o’-the-Wisp of Love.
Will it see me safe through my journey or leave me bogged in the mire? 45
Since a puff of tobacco can cloud it, shall I follow the fitful fire?
Open the old cigar-box—let me consider anew—
Old friends, and who is Maggie that I should abandon you?
A million surplus Maggies are willing to bear the yoke;
And a woman is only a woman, but a good Cigar is a Smoke. 50
Light me another Cuba—I hold to my first-sworn vows.
If Maggie will have no rival, I’ll have no Maggie for Spouse!
February 22, 2015, 01:24 PM
petrNice poem!
I had snow clean-up duties today, about 5 inches. I fired up a CLE Cuarenta while I was shoveling. This was a revisit to one I had a few weeks ago, which was not all that great. I did buy two of them at the time, so this one had 2 months of age on it from the box. This was a fantastic, smooth, smoke. The flavors blended well and there was no harshness at all during it. I will be picking up a few more of these. After this was done, I fired up the tractor and used the snow blower to open up the driveway. The kids were out, so when I finished with that we went for a walk around the property. I lit up a CI Blend Lab YH-456. These do not disappoint in any way and was a nice stick. Now I'm in and feeling a little sore so I'm taking it easy.
February 22, 2015, 02:20 PM
Ronin1069Any of you guys VSG fans? I've smoked them, but don't know enough about them to know if I should be excited about this even at the local B&M:
"Minnesota’s first ever Ashton VSG / Casino Night. Great specials on Ashton VSG, Ashton Classic, San Cristobal and La Aroma de Cuba cigars!
AS A LOCKER MEMBER, WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT SPECIAL WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOU!
We have 50 VSG Event Tickets that can be purchased for $20 each. That gets you the following…
1 FREE Ashton VSG Cigar
A $20 CREDIT towards your purchase of Buy 4 get 1 Free
This is really a no brainer. Buy a $20 ticket, get a FREE VSG AND your money back ($20 credit when you purchase 4 or more cigars at the event!!!"
February 22, 2015, 08:42 PM
goatboyzRonin. I would sign up for that event in a heart beat. The VSG is one of my favorite gars (although truth be told, I haven't had one in a while).
I went to an Ashton event at my local B&M years ago, when they were reintroducing the La Aroma de Cuba line, and it was great. They did some pairings of different kinds of whiskey, nuts and chocolates to show how they can change the flavor profile of the cigars. I smoked my first San Cristobal at that event. I find most anything Ashton to be very good!
February 24, 2015, 08:51 PM
petrThat is great news, Ronin!!
Unfortunately, our youngest son has a friend in school who was just starting to grow his hair back and was diagnosed once again. This time it is not looking good as there is a page looking for donations for something along the lines of Make A Wish. So sad for such a bright, young boy (or anyone for that matter) to have to go through this.
Edit: I was mistaken. This is not a Make A Wish or similar program. The link below explains what the money donated will go towards.
