Vermin Celerity

     My uncle Donnie used to hold rat races every Friday night, you know with actual rodents to place bets on. Well every blue moon they'd feed the rats "crystal." I'll tell you something, these rats ran faster than they ever had before, and with glorious purpose. These vermin speed-racers would set new records. The thing is, they never stopped. These rodents would run circles upon circles around this track. Even if you caged them after, they'd they just run in place. More than a few times, those rats would die of a heart attack, fall over right where they were, and that was that.                                    
   
    Every new high comes at the price of ten more milligrams. It's true what they say, an addict will spend a lifetime chasing after that first high. So you're two hundred milligrams deep, two days awake, and can't remember the last time you ate. This transcendent level of euphoria might be the only time your entire life will flash before your eyes, well this and dying. "We didn't start the fire" by Billy Joel plays from the jukebox of my mind. Replacing the lyrics with events in my lifetime, things like, Y2K, 9/11, and the first black president. But no matter where this "roller coaster ride" takes me, I always think back to my uncles story. Somewhere in it I'm positive is a metaphor for human life.

Reviews

[wordman]

loved the write,and I`m sure it could be true and not a metaphor
I have family members that chases that very thing one an alcoholic dead at 50 brother in law chases those drugs passing around a needle dead at 56 brother in law chasing that drug high overdosed at 47 dead
third brother in law passing around a needle caught hiv dead at 53 I smoked a little pot in the army
but didn`t get a hang to it no drugs for me thanks for the fr

[Alexis Enigma]

Wow my condolences.

I appreciate your kind hearted review.

[wordman]

my pleasure

[Zeitgeist Manifesto]

The imagery here was quite impress...and a great metaphor for life.
Very thought provoking work.

[Cameron]

"these rats ran faster than they had ever before, and with glorious purpose" The wording of this is very clear and concise yet very thought provoking and with great imagery. I applaud you.

[C. Rose]

I was surprised by the vermin "speed-racers". I like the line "the jukebox of my mind". I like how this piece proposes a metaphor for human life, but doesn't tell you what it means. Thanks for sharing :)

[Cool Girl]

The last sentence is very true, at least I believe that it is. I love this piece and am very interested in seeing other writing by you! Take care :)

[Alexis Enigma]

You're a dear. Thanks so much.

[Cool Girl]

You're welcome, my friend!

[The StoryTeller]

I think that is very true, about how it is a metaphor for human life. So, I was wondering, do you ride that coaster of euphoria?

[Alexis Enigma]

Ha. Of life? Or speed? :)

[The StoryTeller]

Either. Both.

[Alexis Enigma]

Life of course, speed once.

[The StoryTeller]

Life is good, speed is bad. I know that sounds kind of cliche, but drugs will ruin your life. Trust me. Anyways, it is great to get high off of life.