MADD

To my niece Felicia...

MADD

A Mother Agonizing over the Disaster that Destroyed her family

One wrong move made by those whose minds were subjected to that tantalizing taste

Of hops and barelyPot- and parties

Subconsciously aware they drove impaired unwilling to see the consequences of their actions

One and eight combinedIs the age that she should be

18 is the date we’ll never see

 

Because she went to a party-ma

With some kids she barely knew

And they chose to drink and drive-ma

A mistake you didn’t chose but you had to pay the price

With your oldest daughters life

Adversity at a dearly cost

 

Instead of prom dates and grad night

You set dates to visit graves

You cry alone with empty pain over a drunken crime

Where innocence was slainHer younger sister cries

Her only brother dies inside

And Jalisa never got to say goodbye

So now you’re stuck in the middle of holding a family together

While being battered with speculations

Accusations for why your daughter joined the ride with a driver who was high

But you know you raised her right

Good moralsCompassionate heart

Driven to work hard to provide a life you didn’t have

One mother, no dad

3 siblings who relied on her for care

Mature, because you couldn’t be there

 

Ma-These are tough times

What are you supposed to do?

You are beatenYou are bruised

And no one had the nerve to tell you that she had a sprite instead of brew

But despite following the rules she ended up lying lifeless, breathless… dead

You can’t pretend it never happened

You can’t suspend heart breaking reaction

It’s natural to get MADD

But ma-Your children need you now

Strength is absent from their mouths

Teach them how to Manage Anger Displaced in a moment of Despair

By Magnifying Angels into focus away from Death and Destruction

Be the Mother Able to see passed Desperation and Dream of a brighter day

A day you can appreciateWhen your children live their dreams

Beyond Prom Dates, and Graduation

As football stars and cheerleaders...As brothers... and as sisters.

Give them hope by being light,

So poor judgment doesn’t blind their sight

Because behind their impairment is a cry out in despair.

No, it may not seem fair she should have lived to see 18,

and had every right to breathe for 20 years

She’s not here and it’s not right-

Empathetically I understand but you need to find your peace

So close your eyes-maGaze into the pages of your imagination

Mentally flip through the scrap-book of her memories

 So when you feel like she's goneKnow that she's been right here,

Inside you the whole time