I saw this bit of history in the chart of a 21 year old, who had been admitted for attempted suicide, that he had the diagnosis of "A.D.D.". By now, thanks to the psychological / pharmaceutical industry (and Dr. Phil), everybody knows this means Attention Deficit Disorder. However, what came to my mind, was how he had started out with ADD, and now, having tried to commit suicide, he had effectively tried to subtract himself from earth.
I knew immediately, that a poem was due to address this unique situation.

A.D.D. and Subtract

He started out life with A.D.D.
But he finished with subtract,
He claimed to be a well mannered fellow
But it was truly just an act.

He was a testament of early intervention
And a reservoir of latent potential,
A proud owner of classic presentation
While supplying the diagnosis differential.

He could prove to the average proud parent
That he was a child in need,
He qualified for therapies galore
And memorized the A.D.D. creed.

His mother learned the lingo and practiced for hours
She was a regular A.D.D. moxie,
Any seasoned professional of forensic practice
Could recognize Munchausen by Proxy*.

As his advocate for treatment and cheerleader for attention
This mother had a well rehearsed act,
But what started as textbook A.D.D.
Would metamorphose into classic subtract.

His old lady was clearly complicit
In the development of his mental condition,
Although psycho abuse indeed was the problem
He helped her by his own volition.

As a poster-child for A.D.D.
He learned about kiddee cocaine,
If you crushed the Ritalin and snorted it up
You could mainline it straight to your brain,
It was the rage among kids, in the friends that he kept
They laughed and called it Vitamin “R”,
It was cheaper than buying illicit drugs on the street
When you kept it at home in a jar.

The final chapter of this sordid, sad story
This miserable cretin lost hope,
After an alcohol binge, Vitamin R and cocaine
He finished life, at the end of his rope.

Fibril_late;
4/13/08

For an easy description of "Munchausen by Proxy", check the following link:
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/munchausen.html

(stay tuned)

Fibril_late;
4/13/08