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junkie bloodletting

by Michele Schottelkorb

half a pound of heroin

half a pound of treacle

that’s the way the story goes

out comes the evil…


~~Lords of Acid… Voodoo-U “Out Comes the Evil”



the bathroom door is ajar

(forgot the latch again, he did)

she spies the needle on the floor

blood spatters make nifty wall shadow animals

spilt milk sours in collapsed veins


seeking substance proved

too daunting a task…


it seemed

that a slam here, a poke there

could replace the need for real company


she kicks the pasty, flaccid arm aside

and watches a lone tear roll

down her tired face

reflected in the glass of his dead, open eyes


“better save this”, she mutters

salvaging several full needles from the soiled linoleum

“hypodermic blood loss is addictive,

round here”

05/05/2004

Author's Note: did you know that the average IV drug user loses blood rival to that of a woman?... on purpose...

Posted on 05/06/2004
Copyright © 2024 Michele Schottelkorb

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Ginette T Belle on 05/06/04 at 03:31 AM

amazing imagery...

Posted by Philip F De Pinto on 05/06/04 at 11:10 AM

It is good to see that there are left in this world the acute observators of life which is all too real. Thank you Michele for your keeness.

Posted by Ashok Sharda on 05/06/04 at 03:04 PM

Well, I had asked a back grounder from Michelle on this and she was kind enough to provide me with this back drop: "dear ashok, there are very evil entities in this beautiful world of ours... drug abuse can be one of them... my newest poem describes actual reality in terms of the death of a drug user and real life things that occur... it is a work of fiction, precipitated by knowledge of real events...". Well, being the kind of sensitive person you are, always pursuing the concept of greater goodness, I can imagine how such events must be affecting you,stirring your poet deep within. This disturbing poem is the example of your ever present social conscious sensitive being.

Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 05/07/04 at 01:36 PM

Quite the eye opener, even for this once upon a time addict. Only tried the needle (speed) once though, and looking back now, glad I didn't get into it full time.

Posted by Sarah Graves on 05/07/04 at 09:26 PM

This peice hits close to home for me. I'll be honest, this was hard for me finish. Thank you for sharing it; it made me think about a few things today.

Posted by Maureen Glaude on 05/08/04 at 01:05 AM

very important and haunting addressal of an alarming problem. Another aspect that is disheartening is the sometimes littered used needles, turning up in parks etc. where children play. There was a boy in Ottawa who fell recently, on the sidewalk near his home, and landed on a drug needle, (used) that jabbed him and he had the wherewithal to tell his mom, and he got full medical care immediately but will still have lasting problems and risks from it. Well written, Michele.

Posted by Graeme Fielden on 05/08/04 at 06:31 PM

The beginning quote sets the tone deliciously, leading to a jaw dropping, over dose in reality - dramatic piece of prose, eloquently capturing this walk on the wild and dark sides of life.... Nice work Michele!

Posted by JD Clay on 05/08/04 at 06:55 PM

Remind me to run and hide under the bed when that train comes through town, your graphic account and poignancy are trip enough. I consider it effective poetry when the message resonates like an air-raid siren, good stuff, Michelle. Pe4ce...

Posted by H.M Stevens on 02/09/05 at 06:32 AM

Thank you for this-- Nicely done.

Posted by Morgan D Hafele on 04/09/05 at 12:37 PM

amazing! i just don't know what else i can say.

Posted by Frank Lee on 12/02/05 at 07:58 AM

this hits a little too close to home. nice piece of writing, very real.

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