Slave to the Vitae

A cousin from Atlanta sent me this. It has many human references, but addiction is a universal pain; it affects kine and kindred the same way. Once you're hooked, you're hooked. Right Becky?

Addicts

Come on down to my corner
For you, doll, only the best
It’ll be fine
Draw a line
I’ll worry about the rest

You think your addiction is private
But, honey, that ain’t true
From teens to queens
Wall Street scenes
They order the same as you

All it takes is money
Desperation and time
To get loaded up
On good stuff
Though the cheap sells by the dime

This’ll take away your worries
For minutes, maybe years
Time will tell
Withdrawal’s hell
And dealers don’t take tears

This bag is for the junkies
With no preference or pride
Garbage heads
With shabby threads
Just living for a ride

So we call it “Porneia”
For the sweaty and confused
And they’ll be back
For another track
‘Til all their time is used

“Storge” costs a little more
And it isn’t very strong
But the buzz is sure
And if it’s pure
The effects are all lifelong

Here they don’t buy “Agape”
I couldn’t give it away
Down on their knees
For a disease
Self-serving, they obey

Those are not the killer drugs
“Eros” takes that prize
Though it grows anywhere
To find it is rare
Too good for my supplies

From first taste they’re all addicts
Down and out, in pain
Willing to kill
For one more pill
Booting a guttered vein

And, doll, you’re doomed to rebound
You’re either hooked or dead
To not want joy
Will just destroy
Your living soul instead

So, sit down by the alley
We’ll watch the neon glow
Having life beat
On the street
We, the addicts, know

(Addicts by Abby Peterson, Camarilla #: US2002023203 from her Margaret Calloway Bellemore Vampire the Requiem Blog, published here with her permission. Be sure to check out her other work, it's amazing.)