Addict in Chains
by Paul Hughes
Light drains from him, the addict in chains,
Stale mustard skin and blackened worm veins,
Stand six foot tall, yet weighs eighty pounds,
His tiny frame arched, gangrene embrowned,
Trapped in this blackest of blackest days,
How he loathes life, let him count the ways,
In cracked mirrors, crooked glances met,
By eyes bleached red with stinging sweat
The child of his heart that used to sing,
Is long now slain and lies decaying,
In the child’s place, the junkie doth reign,
His eyes will not see daylight again
Stale mustard skin and blackened worm veins,
Stand six foot tall, yet weighs eighty pounds,
His tiny frame arched, gangrene embrowned,
Trapped in this blackest of blackest days,
How he loathes life, let him count the ways,
In cracked mirrors, crooked glances met,
By eyes bleached red with stinging sweat
The child of his heart that used to sing,
Is long now slain and lies decaying,
In the child’s place, the junkie doth reign,
His eyes will not see daylight again
Paul Hughes is a breakthrough English poet. His writing explores themes including alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness, and religious transformation. He shares his writing at instagram.com/prosebypaul.