You stand there barefaced
with your mica eyes, your hair a mess,
you’re bored in aftermath of wasted wildness;
your fingers claw for hypodermic bliss.
Your lips in avarice sandpaper a plea;
and carve your craves for more amphetamine.
You beg and say: ‘Further down I cannot fall’
But even in dependence deep as yours
there’s the fourth rule of the addict
that below the bottom lies another bottom deeper still,
that even if you’ve drowned you can suffocate again.
So relent your reverie; that dopey smile
your zilch of bravery that made you once
to take those drugs that kept you thin.
I will you please
unswill and sober up; bounce back to past,
become again the sanguine you of yesterday
Remember that I’ve always kept the faded Polaroid
we took before you plunged into the tidal waves.
A drowned woman (found drowned) by Vasely Perov
This is linked to Mindlovemisery’s wordle, and tomorrow I will link up to the Tuesday platform at toads.
December 19, 2016
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Oh, the closing lines feel so haunting.
Well, I’m listening to some gorgeous “siren” music tonight, so I think drowning could be a very pleasant thing, if it’s drowning in sensation, music, and/or a swirl of chaotically romantic emotions. But that doesn’t seem to be what you’re writing about at all. Or maybe you are, but it’s masked by the drug theme. I like that this could be about different sorts of addictions, but ultimately, the speaker is trying to make the loved one stop his/her bad/destructive behavior.
I love “unswill” as a verb, that faded photo, and this: “below the bottom lies another bottom deeper still” … So many great phrases, actually, like “zilch of bravery” and “lips in avarice.” The first four lines are my favorites, I think. The mica eyes, and the messy hair.
I’m really loving all these poems centered around the “fourth rule.” Very cool responses.
Great use of the words Bjorn, well done…
Captures the addict’s soul.
This was a very emotional read for me. Addiction is absolutely devastating and you have captured that well
you need someone to throw a rope to help you climb back up the slippery slope of addiction, but you’ve got to have the we=ill to grasp it.
Very moving.
There is always a deeper bottom, and it is a heartache to all those around a person lost in addiction’s clutch. Well done, Bjorn.
A beautiful and moving poem that could do a lot of good in a frame on many a classroom, youth club and rehab center wall. Even if it only reaches one person and helps them think before they travel down the road of addiction, that is one person saved. A very powerful write Björn.
I want to go out dancing with the title of this poem. Yes, I like it that much. You are so good at creating worlds out of words that had nothing to do with each other. So many wonderful phrases. “Unswill”, what an image.
You’ve captured the uselessness and the hopefulness of those who stand by and try to help but usually only watch … Addiction is a lonely road… but sometimes they do listen and work their way out… I too like the use of “unswill”
Addiction, a monster who steals, devastates…Your words capture its agony so well and for the ones who reach out to help, but often end up clutching empty air.
The questions of directions and degrees here are very provoking
Much love…
For the addict, there is always THE Bottom, the one they hit before they accept they’ve hit the last living one. Drowning is always an option, but breathing again has no such certainty. Well thought and wrought.
I will you please
unswill and sober up; bounce back to past,
become again the sanguine you of yesterday
One prays for them to be well again! More so having known their
good side when they were well, before!
Hank
This reminds me of some of the heartbreaking news stories I see about the severity of the opiod problem in my country. Very eloquent prayer of suffering.
Your reading of the picture is quite unique – you came at it from a most unexpected angle.
Addicts will always find a new bottom until death or recovery happens. A strange poem so close to the holidays but I know you did a Worde. Happy Holidays Bjorn!
haunting, Bjorn. happy festivus ~
Addiction is bad, they say. Nice dissertation you wrote here. The worst part of being addicted may be getting off. I’ll always be that way.
..
“Remember that I’ve always kept the faded Polaroid
we took before you plunged into the tidal waves.” So full of multiple meanings. Killer lines.
You’ve crafted a painfully good image of addiction, Bjorn.
Ohhhh…. so much more complex than just bouncing back. For every bottom there’s another deeper still, so very true. Thanks for this.
This is quite the painful story you’ve woven. Excellent use of the words.