The Addict

For all those who have watched friends or loved one's succomb to addiction

              It could be anyone,

       some are and everyone knows one.

    He has a good heart, his soul is broken.

 Full of beautifull music and words unspoken.

 They said you're headed down a dead end

but every time he tried to fix it, again and again,

           his soul was deadened.

   Turned to crime, breaking and entering,

     a good man changed by the cravings...

                degenerating.

    As lonely a death as could be provided

 outside the 7-Eleven near where he resided.

      There was no struggle, it was silent.

    He was crying, I'm sure there were tears.

     People all around, busy part of town,

        the addict did his business there

          as people went about theirs'.

      Slumped over in the passenger seat

           of his own ride, unnoticed

         for hours as day turned twilight.

         If I close my eyes tight I can see him,

          slipping away ever so slowly,

     to be released on his last parole see

     an entire life jailed in drug's captivity.

          I like to think he was smiling,

                   blood infiltrated

           by methadone and cocaine.

     His life a long, slow death culminating

                      in this end.

                An addict died today,

                and he was my friend.

Reviews

[Travis Lawrence]

Very well put, an easy, clear, but powerful read. The imagery of the addict puts him inside my head, and I cry for you and him. I don't have the time right now, but I'll take a close look and see if I can offer a full critique for you, to see if there are any places that need tightening, as you say.

Thanks for the reviews! Keep it up, and I'll keep reviewing your work. :-)

Have a nice day!

[April Child]

Sad sad sad. Very well captured. The images hit home. Great poem but just feels so harsh. I guess it should. I'm sorry you lost a friend.

[justjenn_2u]

A strong subject for me. You make it clear of his rock bottom. I have know all type of rock bottoms - hospitalization, intervention, losing everything, instititionalized and as in this poem - death. Praise Jesus I never came to this. An eye opener for any reader.

[Erin Phoenix]

Eh... it was okay... I guess..

Jk

That was an awesome poem.

:)

[Brandon Taylor-Black]

Being a former addict, I know the place of which you write...it's a lonely, dark and desperate place.
You've conveyed that eloquently in this write.
Thankyou for sharing this write.
Bravo

'D'

[Tai Chi Italy Take Two]

Addiction is man's biggest enemy and most a missunderstood modern day health issue. It is the soul that needs healing and we all live a slow death one way or another as your poem depicts....however we get through life and death, is the way we are destined to and nothing can change that. He went peacefull and If he was your friend, he was a lucky man to have you. A really raw piece, may time and love heal soul your bereaved soul, LLB, no crit to offer

[Michael W. Farrelly]

Beautiful the honesty here.

[Nykkiicia Cion]

how sad...ur writing makes ur emotion quite clear...im sorry for ur loss