Spreading The Disease

The sobering effects of alcoholism

  

It was a nightly routine

For a young boy with dreams

Door slamming, playtime ending

All the sudden I wasn’t Superman

With booze on his breath

And a belt in his hand.

 

Before I’d sleep I’d pray

I would have the strength to survive

And be a man unlike him.

 

Spreading the disease

It is him, is it me

Spreading the disease

I need the cure, help me please.

 

It was a daily routine

Living my life in clouded denial

Downing whiskey for recreation

Till a night of flashing blue lights

With my son on life support

I sobered up by his side.

 

Forgoing sleep I just prayed

He would make it through the night

So he can grow up not like me.

 

Spreading the disease

That is me, please not him

Spreading the disease

I lost the cure, help me please.

 

It was a constant routine

Partying up in a college atmosphere

Drinking games till the sun came up

Then came the morning he never woke up

When the tearful call came I knew

I passed on my sickness

 

Forever sleeping I just prayed

God would not forsake him

For the mistakes I made.

 

Spreading the disease

I passed it on, what have I done

Spreading the disease

The only cure came at a price.

 

Author's Note

The sobering reality of alcoholism and how it can be passed on to the children

Reviews

[closed account]

A very powerful message here, I am sure many can relate even if they don't want to admit it! I love poetry that has a hidden meaning, that has truth and provides a relation to someone, I know many who have a problem in drinking my father had one and thank God to this day he is a very sober man for the past 10 years. I hope this can help someone and help then wake up before it's too late!! Amazing, and well done.

;-)

[.]

gosh..you nailed it for impact..that is a sobering thought..our children do learn from us..we have a responsibilty and a bloody huge one..

[NoneOfYourBusiness akaK..]

coming from a family of chronic alcoholics~having been in a relationship with two~ I can tell you how deeply this poetic spoke to me~ I was one of the lucky ones~ child of the alcoholic who develops the opposite~a deep aversion to and hostile hatred of the mind altering substance~ both my daughters' fathers were chronic alcoholics~ I made sure both of them understood young their vulnerability to the disease~ powerful writing~

[Becky C Strukamp]

What a powerful poem with a very important and powerful message. So sad the effects not only have on the alcoholic but those around him or her. Growing up with an alcoholic father, this hits home. Excellent poem from beginning to end.

[Jenny Nelson]

Very sobering and very true. Well portrayed and strongly stated. Hopefully it will be taken to heart by many.

[Erotic Goddess]

And once it is passed on...it cannot be taken back. Very strong imagery in this piece Dale...a wonderful dose of reality to take away from this.

xxoxx

[Liza]

sad, insightful and smoothly expressed
its society....
the media
the easy access
to numb the senses
to fit in the "cool" crowd
if its not alcohol
its a depression pill on every channel in every other commercial
its escapism...
i enjoyed this write....

[Poetic Beauty]

This is a heartfelt write. It comes from the perspective of the father which makes this different from other writes. It makes you feel for the father cause he realizes when it is too late that he has passed this on to his child. This tell a horrific story of how alcoholism can be passed from generation to generation. It shows the horror it can bring to families and the destruction it can shed. The flow of this poem is seamless and fluid. Done in an eye opening creative way.

[Norma M Sutton]

Very well expressed.

[The Analog Kid]

Very poignant and very powerful ending. We really have to watch how we act around our kids.

[Wunderlich]

Very beautiful and powerful piece. Excellent job.