June 12, 2026

As a marriage and family therapist, I spent many years in the field of addiction medicine, working with people who had alcohol and other drug problems—and working with their families. I was touched by their struggles, sorrows, and triumphs. My heart is still with them.

fried piper

plays a tune
invites the uninitiated
to follow and they do

from joint to pill to pipe to needle
from remember to forget
forget to remember to sleep

nightmare glitches worse than dreams
lullaby discord
that briefly soothed deadens
pain connection future hope direction

except in circles
more need now more need
piper’s tune forgotten
notes on loop that play unbidden

try to keep hidden
then no longer care
more you use more it takes

afraid to sleep
afraid to wake
if you wake