Addiction Poem by Nancy Ames

(The speaker here is an older person lecturing a young person.)


'Opinions are not always right
but waves are often tidal,
and the dedicated parasite
is always suicidal.

It's sort of like a clinging vine
that's twisted round a tree;
it tries to take all the sunshine
and be all it can be.

Don't put your faith in flattery,
becoming much too tall;
the vine that blossoms eagerly
is just about to fall.

Like, on the other hand, a bug,
a bacterium or fly,
and just because you took a drug,
that doesn't mean you're high.

To glamorize reality
can't possibly be cheap
and freedom isn't always free;
don't do it in your sleep.

All the snobs have little smiles
and never lift their fingers;
security means having files
on political swingers.

If they've got interest in your life,
some trickery or scheme,
they won't need a gun or knife;
they're into your bloodstream.'