So
sad
.
t
o
.
see
.
y
o
u
r
.
playful
youth,
–
–
subdued
.
a
n
d
.
consumed
.
b
y
.
the
tattoos
.
o
f
.
abuse . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
You
try
.
t
o
.
hide . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
You
try
.
t
o
.
hide . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
behind
.
wallpaper
designs
.
o
f
.
posed
pride . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
What
color
.
w
i
l
l
.
suit
.
y
o
u
r
.
mood
tonight,
.
.
a
s
.
.
you
begin
.
t
o
.
lead
.
y
o
u
r
.
new
life . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
five
.
f
i
n
e
.
flavors,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
two
.
dimensions
wide . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ five
.
f
i
n
e
.
flavors,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
two
.
dimensions
wide . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
iced
.
w
i
t
h
.
fake
promises
.
a
n
d
.
lies . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
day,
–
–
after
night,
–
–
after
day . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
night,
–
–
after
day,
–
–
after
night . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
I
.
h
o
p
e
.
before
.
t
o
o
.
long,
.
.
y
o
u
.
.
come
.
t
o
.
realize,
.
.
h
o
w
.
.
much
better
.
i
t
.
felt
.
t
o
.
live
alive . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
within
.
t
h
e
.
warmth
.
o
f
.
those,
.
.
y
o
u
.
.
could
.
o
n
c
e
.
rely . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ within
.
t
h
e
.
warmth
.
o
f
.
those,
.
.
y
o
u
.
.
could
.
o
n
c
e
.
rely . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
You
used
.
t
o
.
move . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ You
used
.
t
o
.
move . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
between
.
t
h
e
.
moods
.
o
f
.
smooth
.
a
n
d
.
soothing
afternoons . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
You
used
.
t
o
.
bloom
into
.
t
h
e
.
laughter
.
a
n
d
.
charm,
.
.
o
f
.
.
brewed
cartoons . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
b
u
t
–
–
–
now
.
y
o
u
.
cannot
.
f
i
n
d
.
refuge
.
f
r
o
m
.
even
.
t
h
e
.
addictions
.
y
o
u
.
selectively
choose . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ from
even
.
t
h
e
.
addictions
.
y
o
u
.
selectively
choose . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
s
o
–
–
–
welcome
to
.
t
h
e
.
barbecue,
–
–
where
we
.
c
a
n
.
view
retreating
.
y
o
u
t
h
.
accumulate
.
t
h
e
.
dues . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
You
accumulate
.
t
h
e
.
dues . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
You
accumulate
.
t
h
e
.
dues . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
You
accumulate
.
t
h
e
.
dues . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
o
f
–
–
–
retreating
youth . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
s
–
–
–
you
.
helplessly
move
.
f
r
o
m
.
low
.
t
o
.
high . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
from
side
.
t
o
.
side . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
ever
mesmerized
.
b
y
.
the
whirling,
–
–
winding,
–
–
hypnotic
.
ride:
–
–
–
.
.
.
You
can’t
.
g
e
t
.
on . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
You
can’t
.
g
e
t
.
on . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
You
can’t
.
g
e
t
.
on . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
you
can’t
.
g
e
t
.
off.
Reflection: This was a personal struggle-themed poem that I wrote back in May of 2001 where the affected party flirts with temptation and repeatedly gets drawn into the depths of the darkness and chaos it brings – being addicted to the “ride.” It becomes a lifelong, all-consuming 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.