Streets of Waste
Addiction takes on many disguises
You feel left alone with your own vices
Yet, you don’t think there is a problem
Which is the problem you can’t see
Once your family was willing to help
Now you’re trapped in a grim reality.
On the outside, you’re lost and alone
But not always lonely and left on your own
Since the street rats only gnaw at you
When the mean green is flowing
Though sadly most days,
There’s barely even a showing.
Out on the streets, it’s cold
Still down the broken pavement, you strolled
Always looking for the next fix
It’s the comfort of the fix that keeps you going.
But it’s your own life
In the trash, you are throwing
Mom and Dad were partly to blame
As a child, they treated you crippled and lame
It was nature vs. nurture
And nature had the upper hand
So tough love is what you needed
Not coddling and kisses as planned.
Mental help you should have received
But it was hard for our parents to believe
Their only son was less than perfect
And the reasons never ended
Bad eyes and complexion to name a few
And no girlfriend as originally intended.
And you certainly had your own excuses
Genetic inheritance, so everyone uses
Our paternal family likes their alcohol
And your favorite bands partied hard
Your heroes died at such a young age
Which really should have left you scarred
My misguided brother, I haven’t a clue
Now a simple question I must ask you
Why didn’t I fall into the same trap
For our families are one and the same
Is it because deep down inside
You also believe you are crippled and lame
*I wrote this poem on April 10, 2021, as part of a ’30 days of poetry’ challenge. This was day 10 and the prompt was: Write a poem about a sibling. Since I only have one brother, I wrote it about him. It’s a poem that was pretty hard for me to write. I wish my brother would seek the help that he desperately needs.
Copyright © Courtney Hubbert | Year Posted 2023
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