Disease of Despair

We blow our best intentions toward life
until a disease of despair causes a death of despair
drug and drink abuse, and suicide

Like dogs chasing tails, constantly turning away rotates you to the beginning
despair, causing disease bounding toward death
drug and drink abuse, and suicide

Listeners helping on hotlines, listening is sometimes enough
listeners at home too close to help, accidentally blind sometimes
drug and drink abuse, and suicide

Systemic processes designed to fail minorities
they start leaning toward death, a death of despair
drug and drink abuse, and suicide

Whisper strength into those bones
barely advancing until prepared to
drug and drink abuse, and suicide

As boiling milk forms a bubbly creamy top-layer
blurry becomes normal and constant, during
drug and drink abuse, and suicide

Help does not arrive expectedly, promptly, enthusiastically
but a love may poke the tiniest window toward life, inside
drug and drink abuse, and suicide

Squash and mutilate that disease of despair
leaving a body and mind hurling away, from
drug and drink abuse, and suicide

.

..

…

- inspired by "Mortality and Morbidity in the 21st Century" by Ann Case and Angus Deaton -
- artwork by Wayne Thiebaud, “Large Sucker”, 1971
- mailed to Florida