This one is a heartbreaker. True story of young woman 21, dying of a drug overdose. I uncover the root cause of the distressing reality.

Only Time For Tears

Twenty-one, is just too young
To die from an addiction,
It points a finger at a cause
A glaring dereliction,
A charge is made that someone failed
To raise the child right,
Her parents bow their heads in shame
Their grief returns each night.

When interviewed, her fourth grade teacher said
"She was so quiet",
The school nurse that came monthly, wrote
"She really needs to diet",
Her brother teased her constantly
And called her awful names,
Her self esteem belittled
In all his clever games.

Her father was a busy man
He'd say, "Later child, I'm thinking",
She loved him like a daughter would
And didn't see him drinking,
Her mother came home late each night
She'd smell of smoke and beer,
There was never time for family stuff
They'd always say, "Next year".

Her city didn't give much thought
About those too young to vote,
It was real-estate and industry
And "Restore the River-boat",
The library, her favorite place
Was closed, for lack of vision,
By the city council members
"Waste of money", their decision.

The local voice, the newspaper
Would rail about "Our youth",
Hanging out and unemployed
And never print the truth,
Taxpayers in an uproar
Police prepared to scrimmage,
Who cares about the lousy kids
They're ruining our image.

Seemingly unwanted
She withdrew for her protection,
She buried all her feelings
In the absence of affection,
With no guidelines of behavior
Or a sense of wrong and right,
She listened to outsiders
And sought solace in the night.

Yes twenty-one, is just too young
To die from an addiction,
The grown-ups she relied on
Performed her crucifixion,
Nailed her to the cross of life
Without a chance to live her years,
Her death is such a tragedy
Now there's only time for tears.

Fibril_late; 11/94