Shotgun Wedding

[Billy]

Shotgun Wedding

In two days
I'll get married,
the fourth time.
My second marriage
I walked down the aisle
asking myself,
"What the hell are you doing?"
then said, "I do."
This latest one
saved my life,
met her in treatment.
She had lots of clean time,
gave a talk.
She was beautiful,
a former actress
and singer,
and what an ass.
Well, here I am
about to have her
for the rest of my life.
Of course, the other
three were supposed
to be forever.
I've been clean for six months.
She knew better.
"Don't get involved
with a newcomer."
Six months after we hitched
I had to fess up
when it was the day
to acknowledge my clean
time with a 1 year coin.
She said she wouldn't
have married me
if she'd known.
But maybe it was a sign
I'd finally taken life
seriously when I
booted up that Black Tar
heroin with an old
using buddy
who was holding a bag.
A week later
I heard he
blew his head off
with a shotgun.

[BobBradshaw]

Powerful poem, Billy. I’m not familiar with the term “boosted”. Does that mean the N shared the heroin? If so, how does that mean it’s a sign the N is taking life seriously? That threw me off. Otherwise just a terrific piece.

[Billy]

Thanks, Bob, that was supposed to be “booted”, a term used by needle users to shoot up a drug such as heroin.

[Kenneth2816]

Stark, Billy. They say sometimes relapse is part of recovery. I met my second wife in the rooms.

I like the arcane and gritty use of the title to tie
this all together.

[IndianaDP]

I’ve never had a substance addiction but I imagine you grow quite close to people in recovery sessions.