*Poem/lyrics by Teresa B. Schumacher, 04/22/22.
I asked you to put the bottle down
But you only drank deeper
From that endless place of sorrow
That you like to call home
I asked you to come outside
And dance in the autumn sun
Instead you closed your curtains
And staggered to your bed
While I was outside dancing
You dreamed of it instead
I asked you to show up
When I needed you the most
But you left me in the darkness
Reaching for a hand
You asked me for forgiveness
Tears pouring like your wine
But when I reached for my glass
To give you something kind
I found nothing left in those old dregs
But the bitter taste of time
The glass shatters now
And I’m left here to decide
Do I sweep the pieces under
To that place where no one goes?
Or do I walk across and bear a pain
That no one wants to know
I asked you for just one thing
As I held on to what’s true
But you’d rather dance with demons
Than give me all of you.
**** I’ve been holding these words in for a long, long time now, and it feels good and right to finally let them breathe. Addiction is an all-consuming disease, and it brings down more than just the one holding the bottle. For anyone out there who has a loved one battling addiction, know that you are not alone .
