Tough Love
It would’ve been our 24th
anniversary this year. Yes,
I remembered, even though
we only spent eight years together.
We had the best of times. Love,
shared friends, each other’s children,
our home, our laughter. Our annual trips
to Louisville each February, to
Wisconsin for Irish Fest.
We had the worst of times,
your alcoholism, then you dabbled
in narcotics. Taking prescriptions
from doctors you worked for.
Writing scripts out to your kids,
a close friend, to me.
One of the hardest things I’ve done
was turning you in to authorities.
I was afraid you’d kill yourself, and
you threatened suicide when they came
for you. It did cause you to get
the rehab you needed.
We spoke a few times after,
life went on and we lost touch.
I think of you from time to time, hope
you’re still well. I speak to your daughter
on her birthday, she texts on mine.
I wish love was stronger than addiction.
*
Lylanne Musselman is an award-winning poet, playwright, and visual artist. Her work has appeared widely in literary journals and many anthologies. Musselman is author of the poetry collection, It’s Not Love, Unfortunately (Chatter House Press, 2018), and author of seven poetry chapbooks including Staring Dementia in the Face (Finishing Line Press, 2023). Her newest collection of poems, In My Life: A Pop Culture Poetry Memoir (October 2026), is just out from Chatter House Press.
Honest and powerful.
Thank you!!