DRUNK WITH A BLACK EYE

Addiction, loneliness,

I awaken from a drunk stupor sleep

a blue painted square surrounds

an old pilled blanket covers most of me

smells like puke

my army green canvas satchel nearby

my new home, a parking lot

but who?

many like me, liquor bottles within a grasp

It's 10:00AM

my hair filthy, stringy, lice-ridden

reeks from booze

my tattered clothes, nasty, odor of dried sweat

breakfast: three gulps of gin

whatever I scrounge from bins

My middle-class family tosses me out at 18

after I punch my father in the face

come home drunk, we argue,

I lose it, not too bad

my father misses three teeth

he smack me a black eye, b*****d!

Now I'm 21, on my own

pace the streets day and night

I survive, admittedly lonely

sometimes I get day work

if my red eyes turn clear

pays for my habit

tough to get clean

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

Don't think I would try to set this one to the tune of "Happy Days Are Here Again." It is a picture of despair, of a life on the margins. The tragedy is that the speaker is only 21! Of course, that also means there is time to reset the course, but that last line indicates it's not going to be easy.

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re correct, a sad story involving so many young people, even a close relative of mine; thanks for reviewing, appreciate it always,Betty

[barleygirl]

There but for the grace of God go I. Whenever I see the downtrodden such as in your vividly intense profile here, I am again in wonderment that I did not go down this path much further than I did, given my raging self-hatred after years of being raped by my father. I love that you paint this picture with such distinct details, not glossing anything over. It's good to get a glimpse into how she came to be here & many start out this way. I get tired of people like me (who survive) saying people like her (who don't) are not trying hard enuf or are using abuse as excuse (or whatever dumb crap people say to avoid having to deal with our society's ills). Some people fight hard & some people crumple. That's the just the difference between various human natures. You can't blame a person for not being a fighter. Lots of people are not. As I just told someone else, when I go off on a poem, you know you've struck a chord! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Betty Hermelee]

WOW, really good review...some people pull themselves up and some are knocking death's door!
Thanks Margie, B

[Chris Shaw]

A sad tale which happens all too often. So many young people find themselves in this situation. Homeless and then addictions too. A tragedy of our times. Well conveyed Betty.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank for your review Chris; it's happening to so many young college kids, sad!

[Taylor]

You have captured the down and dirty of the brutality of addiction. I was an addictions therapist for many years, so sadly this rings very true. You also have captured the essence that it is not a choice.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you for your in-depth interview and for visiting the Cafe, yours
Betty

[Lea Sheryn]

It's too bad so many young people face the same scenario. We can do better!

[Betty Hermelee]

Thanks Lea for you strong comment, Fondly, Betty

[Lea Sheryn]

You're welcome, Betty.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I'm one of the ones who doesn't believe addiction is a "disease". I believe addiction is a choice. Then comes the question, why would anyone choose this? And there's a very simple answer. Pain. Every addiction stems from pain of some sort, mental, emotional, spiritual or physical. Some work hard to navigate and alleviate their pain without drugs. Others hide from the pain and find solace in temporary relief. The only great problem with the latter is that when the nepenthe is gone...the pain is still there so they return to their drug of choice for comfort. And so, begins the vicious cycle of addiction and it ends only in one of two ways. The person gets so fed up with their lifestyle choice that they would do "anything" to get clean. Just as they once would do anything for their "fix". That usually takes hitting rock bottom. Or they die. And I've lost more than one friend to the choices they made.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you for your kind review. It is indeed a terrible illness

[Dave Brown]

Becoming a much too common scenario

[Betty Hermelee]

yes, unfortunately. Thanks for visiting.

[poetgurl]

Such an emotional heart tugging write. Nicely expressed

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you for your kind review!

[poetgurl]

not a problem