Heroin
You are a four-year-old,
cold and wet, shivering,
scared, hungry.
Your mother brings you in
and wraps you in a towel,
warm and fresh from the dryer.
She takes you on her lap and
rocks and sings to you.
You lift your head from her
chest, just for a moment,
to see her smile.
You sink and sleep and
your breathing slows
and soon you no longer
need to breathe.