Oh, mother, mother!
Do you see me,
smiling
at the needle?
Mother, mother?                        

Oh, friends, friends!
Do you hear me,
laughing
from the addiction?
Friends, friends?                        

Oh, nurse, nurse!
Do you smell
the wafting
iron?
Nurse, nurse?                        

Oh, world, world!
Do you feel me
grasping
your wrist?
World, world?                        

Oh, Amanda, Amanda!
Do you taste your
bleeding
vein?
Amanda, Amanda?                        

The mother—
The friends—
The nurse—
The world—
And I—
Answer, *"no."