She was light
not just in ounces and pounds
but in the way she moved

You know what I mean
a person who can elevate the mood
of a room
with a word
or smile

The pills made her heavy
not just in the numbers
of sizes and scales
but in the way she became still

The deluge of tablets and capsules
knocked her down
off her stage
onto her knees

left her weeping
begging anyone who would listen
to make her light again
to dry her face

soaking from the water
from her eyes and from the flood
now unable to be without
her daily dose

dependency holds her hand
a parent who is afraid
to let the child be free
Worried she will float away