Two Poems by Shep Glennon
People want to act like the addict's life is so different than the average type
Like it's all about the crack pipe
But I've been addicted--
Addicted to drugs and drinking,
Addicted to sinning
And I'll tell you the difference--
Is just one of degrees.
The Denial
The Self-Obsession
The Willful Ignorance
The Fear of Changing
And the Self-Sabotage
The Self-Sabotage
Yeah I've been addicted--
And even when I quit it, I realized that I was still addicted
Addicted to being a control-freak, and seeking gratification that's instant
Pornography and the internet,
And in relationships I was desperate
To fit in--
When people told me that that was all just normal
I realized that the biggest addict is of all is society - consuming oil,
News articles saturate and workoholics toil
Self esteem deflatin
People stayin in unhealthy situations while dating
Because the media portrays unrealistic expectations
Unlimited growth to fuel stock markets
Consumer capitalism don't get me started
Do you know how many
Batteries I've burned, shoes I've gone through, cheese doodles I've made departed?
I am Charlie Sheen!
You are Charlie Sheen!
It's just one of degrees
The Denial
The Self-Obsession
The Willful Ignorance
The Fear of Changing
And the Self-Sabotage
The Self-Sabotage
We keep making the same mistakes
Over and over again
As a nation, as a people
Expecting different results
We keep making the same mistakes
Over and over again
As a family, as a people
We do it until it hurts
You'd think that rock bottom would solve it!
You'd think that rock bottom would solve it!
You'd think that rock bottom would stop it!
You'd think that rock bottom would stop it!
No--
I've been addicted--
Addicted to drugs and drinking
And addicted to sinning
And let me tell you the difference--
Is just one of degrees
...Oh shit, let's focus, and get back to basics / hell is on earth if hell is where pain is /i dont fall in love, optimism is dangerous / anesthetize situations?
I don't have the patience (patients) /
So, let those Romantics waste time in a daydream/
the privileged people proclaiming / that life is a peach / of childhood summers with second homes on the beach...
Second homes on a beach? wait
I smell a leech/ check the receipts / Daddy owns property in the ghetto to finance this dream/
forcing / his tenants to be blood-lettin’/ most of their income on rent / And what's left over for groceries after all this is spent?/ Something's always sacrificed when they are choosing/ like most Americans, they can't even afford an illusion! /
yet whites and male cis hold onto their myths / of Individualism and colorblindness, reverse sexism and national progress/ what's the thirteenth amendment? How do cheap goods exist?/ Conflict minerals in my phone, I'm using to write this poem just as guilty as a diamond from Sierra Leone/ slavery never died it just changed form / out of sight out of mind like every thing else we ignore / that has the power to save us, if we
could only
turn to face it/
So oh shit...
Let’s focus...
And get back to basics