Written for dVerse Poets Quadrille #202
– Hello Darkness –
where we are asked to embrace the dark
in 44 poetic words.

Death creeps
in the night,
hiding in the
darkest of places
where junkies
shoot up
in the alleys
by dim light.
But no one
is around
to see
the relief
on their faces
when they fade
to black
and softly give up
the fight.
NAR©2024
44 Words
This is Metallica with “Fade To Black”, live from Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska
All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.
Heart-wrenching. It is a horrible way of life. Those of us that hear God calling us back are truly blessed.
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Amen to that, Melissa. 🖤
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A friend explained her drug use in that they take you to a different place and when you see the reality of those dark alleys, you can see how drugs, in reality, take you to those dark places too and it is circular…
Well put in this poem…
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Your friend describes a clear picture into the mind of a drug user. There must be many times of extreme loneliness. Perhaps they feel less alone in the dark.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
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Darkness, their only friend.
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So tragic.
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Sad reality for far too many. Nicely done.
I am still contemplating this one. It’s in my drafts!
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Thank you! I’m sure if you take this one on it will be wonderful!
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I can promise you it won’t be dark 😉
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Yes, maybe it is a better end than the life lived in those alleys.
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One would think but who are we to say?
Thank you, Björn.
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How heartbreaking is that! Nancy, you write of this dark truth so beautifully.
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The suffering is much, for addict and family.
Thanks for your very gracious comments.
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It is. Not just the addict, the entire family suffers. You are very welcome.
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Drug addiction is pandemic in this country; it is everywhere. A true darkness for all, as you know, and as you have portrayed in this poignant quadrille.
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Thank you, D. I appreciate your kind thoughts.
Yes, my family has experienced this first hand. Never again!
Sadly, this country is not winning the war on drugs.
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oh sadly so… it is all so sad! Sorry about you nephew, Nancy💗💔
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It’s criminal, Cindy. So many young people go through years of rehab and are sent out into the world to fend for themselves, only to be swallowed up. Such a tragedy. 🖤
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Oh it’s heartbreaking for sure, Nancy.. so awful❣️
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I was at this party one time where I walked into this room and a junkie had a needle stuck in his arm and he asked me to help him. I couldn’t even look at him and I knew I had to get out of there as quick as I could.
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I can’t imagine what it must be like being in that situation …. for you or that poor guy.
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Short, poignant, and beautifully crafted.
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Thank you, D. My late nephew’s birthday is coming up and I’ve been thinking about his untimely and tragic death to a drug OD.
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So sorry N,! Heart is breaking. There but for the grace of god go a niece and a couple of friends.
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♡
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Wow, what a beautiful way to describe an ugly reality.
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Thank you, Iris.
No one wants to be a drug addict. I think when it hits home, we tend to look at the stark reality with softer eyes.
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A heartbreaking story
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Yes, and one realized by too many people, too many families.
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Sadly that’s true.
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very sad 😭
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Addiction is a nightmare from which many do not awake; my young nephew was a tragic victim of a drug OD.
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I know it’s so sad, I remember you saying about your nephew 💜💜
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these moments in their lives… fading to black…well expressed, Nancy 🤍
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I can only imagine, Destiny. It must be so lonely 🖤
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Great quadrille
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Thank you, Anthony. ❤︎
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