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This Person Will Self-Destruct In...

How far can you let them take you
down the road of self-destruction?
While you try to build them up
help them in reconstruction

Do you let them take the food
from your family's mouth
steal your rent, your sleep
while they are going south?

How many times do you try
before you finally get tough
Do you let them destroy you
before enough is just enough?

Yes, we loved our son
but we had to let him go
Down the road to ruination
though we loved him so

No twelve step plans or prison-life
could keep him from his trip
Everything was tried, I guess
There's nothing that we skipped

Now he is at peace
drugs took his precious life
He died of overdose
the police have told my wife

Style / type: 
Structured: Western
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Review Request (Direction): 
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Last few words: 
We lost our son David last month to addiction and the rough road he followed. He was 51 years old and had many, many chances to change his life.
Editing stage: 
Content level: 
Not Explicit Content

Comments

WOW, that is so rough on everyone concerned! your son traveled a rocky road, and it took a heavy toll... I doubt that I can say anything to lessen the sting of loss :( I am glad that you are able to write it out as it is cathartic. I know a lot about addiction and the losses it brings. you were right to draw the line in the sand when it came to distancing yourself from it and keeping your home life alive. if you ever need to talk to someone about it, I have a good ear for listening. the poem is brilliant! favorite lines:

Yes, we loved our son
but we had to let him go
Down the road to ruination
though we loved him so

No twelve step plans or prison-life
could keep him from his trip
Everything was tried, I guess
There's nothing that we skipped

*hugs, to both you and Wendy.

*
When someone reads your work
And responds, please be courteous
And reply in kind, thanks.

Yes, it is tough; We tried mightly and failed to get through to him, but he didn't even make an effort. He blamed everyone but himself. Thanks, I guess that this will be the last of talking about it for some time. ~ Geez.
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author comment

Results from multiple studies confirmed that the idea from peer pressure can sway people into doing or participating in something they normally wouldn't. Whether is drug use or exercise peer pressure encourages people to alter their behaviours.

Beautifully written. The rhythmical flow and the meter unfolds well.

"By virtue of creativity, my literary genre is poetry".

~Jackweb

congratulations on the win! a very worthy win. this is the kind of poem that haunts and stays with the reader for a long time!

*hugs, Cat
ever, eddy

*
When someone reads your work
And responds, please be courteous
And reply in kind, thanks.

It was written from the heart and I find that when you write from the heart, it often produces the best effort. Thank you for the congratulations. ~ Geez.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

author comment

you are absolutely right...from the heart!

*hugs, Cat
ever, eddy

*
When someone reads your work
And responds, please be courteous
And reply in kind, thanks.

Congratulations for the good news!

"By virtue of creativity, my literary genre is poetry".

~Jackweb

for the congratulations, on the poem of the week. ~ Geezer.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

author comment

Drugs are such a f***ed up thing. Some old friends have been going through it with two of their sons, one was doing well, had his own welding truck and was working as a sub-contractor, when he got into heroin. The other had problems from an early age (anorexic by age 13) and last time I talked to anyone, he had had two overdoses from which he had nearly died. One wonders why it is that it is the boys that are going wrong, because it seems to be a definite social phenomenon in North American society. I noticed it as a teacher, but also couldn't help but see it in the sons of people I knew. Yet, the girls seem to be doing fine, better than ever.

I feel sorry for you, having to cut your son loose and let him pursue his own way to perdition. It must have been really hard on you and your family, but, in the end, what else can you do? Nicely crafted poem. No need for me to critique it.

comments. Yes, it is hard and we know that it is hard for many parents out there. As far as it being mostly boy, I don't know that it is more boys than girls. I think that it is just that the boys are more visible and that girls tend to have more friends that will intervene, and girls tend to talk to other girls about how they feel, boys don't do that as much, and families tend toi shield the girls more often than not. ~ Geezer.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

author comment

I can't imagine the pain you are in. All I can do is tell you I am available if you want to talk, RIP to your son

for the kind offer of talking. We are dealing with it on a day by day basis. He was a really troubled soul and we are just trying to accept that he is now at peace. Gone from us physically, but remembered in our hearts. ~ Gee.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

author comment
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