there are things
i'm unable to escape
there are things
i love and despise
and the feeling is mutual
there are things
i feel guilty about
and wrong without
there are things
that feed on sorrow
and despair would be
their victory feast

and then there are things
that are all of the above
and those things
are one of two things:
addictions
afflictions
and sometimes
when lines in sand
are worn down by wind
when watercolors
run together
when one thing
is a bit too close to the other
something is both

now can anyone
who's seen what i've seen
tell me the difference
between
an addiction
and
an affliction?