I

.

kneeled

.

t

o

.

you,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

your

.

delusions

.

o

f

.

sex,

–

–

paranoia,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

confusion . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

y

e

t

–

–

–

still,

.

.

y

o

u

.

.

infect

.

me . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

infect

.

m

e

.

with

.

y

o

u

r

.

tease . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ you

infect

.

me . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

infect

.

m

e

.

with

.

y

o

u

r

.

greed . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ you

infect

.

me . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

bleed

.

m

y

.

self-esteem,

–

–

until

.

nothing

.

b

u

t

.

you

.

remains

.

o

f

.

me . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

cannot

.

restrain

.

t

h

e

.

urge . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

I

.

cannot

.

control

.

t

h

e

.

burn . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

cannot

.

restrain

.

t

h

e

.

urge . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

I

.

cannot

.

control

.

t

h

e

.

burn . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

cannot

.

restrain

.

t

h

e

.

urge . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

I

.

cannot

.

control

.

t

h

e

.

burn . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

o

r

–

–

–

you

.

always

–

–

promise

.

more,

.

.

t

h

a

n

.

.

you

.

d

i

d

.

the

.

time

.

before . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

always

–

–

promise

.

more . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

always

–

–

promise

.

more . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

You

.

always

–

–

promise

.

more . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

days

.

later,

–

–

nothing

.

new

.

i

s

.

delivered . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

leaving

.

m

e

.

crushed

.

a

n

d

.

crumpled

.

o

n

.

the

.

floor . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ you

leave

.

m

e

.

crushed

.

a

n

d

.

crumpled

.

o

n

.

the

.

floor . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Crystal,

.

please

.

d

o

.

not

.

let

.

t

h

e

.

days

.

g

o

.

by . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

o

r

–

–

–

every

.

time

.

y

o

u

.

come

.

around,

.

.

m

y

.

.

good

.

intentions

.

s

p

i

n

.

’round

.

a

n

d

.

’round,

.

.

and

.

.

f

a

l

l

.

.

up

.

a

n

d

.

down . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ they

.

s

p

i

n

.

’round

.

a

n

d

.

’round,

.

.

and

.

.

f

a

l

l

.

.

up

.

a

n

d

.

down . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

s

–

–

–

you

.

hold

.

m

e

.

hostage,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

race

.

m

y

.

time

.

b

y

.

leaps

.

a

n

d

.

bounds . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Hour,

–

–

after

hour,

–

–

after

hour . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

underground . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Hour,

–

–

after

hour,

–

–

after

hour . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

spellbound . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

although

.

I

.

never

.

s

e

e

.

them,

.

.

I

.

.

always

.

hear

.

t

h

e

.

sound . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

always

.

hear

.

t

h

e

.

sound . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

always

.

hear

.

t

h

e

.

sound . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

always

.

hear

.

t

h

e

.

sound . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

o

f

–

–

–

maneuvers

.

o

n

.

the

.

ground . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ maneuvers

.

o

n

.

the

.

ground . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

ever

.

seeking

.

t

o

.

surround.

Reflection: This was a personal struggle-themed poem that I wrote back in May of 2002 where the affected party becomes consumed by an addiction he or she just cannot resist or overcome – and wakes repeatedly to chaos, darkness, confusion, and clutter. It becomes a lifelong struggle – and it seems the affected party will never be able to escape the forces of temptation, addiction, and compulsion. The struggle can represent any form of temptation, addiction, or compulsion: drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, obsessions, etc.