He shakes.
Usually when he's smoking a Pall Mall,
or when the coffee pot has been drained
of every last drop.
His kisses taste like tobacco
and sickly sweet Splenda.
His skin, once a dusty peach,
is stained jaundice yellow by smoke.
His eyes, like small jewels in a tarnished setting,
still contain small flickers of life,
small hints of laughter,
of days before the needle.
The track marks on his arms,
match the number of times his father
hit him as a child.
He shakes.
Usually when he's smoking a Marlboro,
or when he's curled up on the floor,
dope roaring through his veins and mind a mess.
He doesn't make much sense when he talks,
but I can see in his expression every word pains him.
When I press my ear to his chest,
I can hear his heart beating slowly,
and I know one day I won't hear it at all.
In a list
What do you think?
Comments
1 - 19 of 19
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Reality!! It sounds all so horrible and sick and yet so true... there are these thousands of people seeking an escape in smoke and dope ... and it does provide an escape... Just a complete escape- an eventual death.
This was very vivid, all the scenes. Very well done.... Thank you for sharing this.
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Thank you very much, 'tis one of my best I think.
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very vivid imagery, so sick it's sad and yet all too familiar...
great read. -
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Thanks.
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junkies... I've known a few
good write, such a ring of reality. Love the last verse for all its foreboding gloom, but my fav bit is:
"The track marks on his arms,
match the number of times his father
hit him as a child"
poignantly sad.
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Aww, thanks! I've never been on someone's list before!
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Pleasant
I knew a junkie once. This poem made me feel as though I were the junkie, going through his experiences. It made me sad, to think that people actually go through that shit. Powerful writing.
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Thanks.
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Forgot the clappies!!!
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I saw this a lot in my hippie days! This reminds me of when I was in the "ahem" hospital.....some of the people were there to dry out....a harsh reality of what drugs can do to you and the end result.....you have penned a great piece here my friend
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Thank you.
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no nodding out here
Good descriptive visuals used. Message reminds reader that the hype is human too. Or used to be, in some cases. I like raw .."street" poetry. Escape ...it never lasts long enough. Good solid writing
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Thanks.
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You are very descriptive here. It's like I got a junkie twitching right here on the porch with me. This is much grosser than any monster you've made up before.
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I really appreciate that. Glad you enjoyed.
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I do not have anything to say except well done. I think you have painted some all too realistic images in this. Maybe it is just past experience, but I feel some of that weird liquid prickling in the corner of my eyes.
..."I know one day I won't hear it at all." *sigh*
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Thank you. Right now, this feels to me like my most emotional write ever.
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Well, I have not read everything, yet, but I know it is one of the best I have encountered so far. It takes a hell of a lot to make me water-logged with just words.
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