You found something in my lithium eyes

The leather belt left more than marks on your neck

As you buried yourself in bourbon and stink

Bonded by our death-wish

You would laugh as I would cry



Your mask was much stronger than mine

Mine as fragile as wet paper tissues

You love with the back of your hand

Waiting for your trophy wife to appear

You blame the powder and I blame myself



Grab your beers and go

I’ll call the ambulance myself

One last hug, I beg

As the apartment door slams shut

I’ll call the ambulance myself



And when you called and cared again

I bowed down to do anything, again

You came – you came and then left

Again, I called every day

Until you found your reason to make me stop



I made it out alive

Leaving behind the forsaken wasteland

That was your life, not mine

I made it out alive

Leaving you behind

This poem was inspired by a piece originally written by Shayne Rich on SubStack