A chap at my Gamblers Anonymous wrote this poem and read it last night. He gave me permission to re-print it. It is very raw and he uses it to remind himself of why he stopped gambling. I found it very moving and powerful and that is why I want to share.
*EDIT. The system here is formatting it different and losing all the verses. I can’t spearate them out which is frustrating. harry what is going on?
More Than A Slap
by Eddie C
I promise you riches and glory,
but only leave broken promises,
empty bank accounts and destroyed relationships.
It may be gradual or it may be quick
but I’ll make you my play thing,
my little puppet
as I jump you up and down till you’ve lost all in town.
I will try and trick you into thinking you are normal
and soon that I don’t exist,
and when that is so
you’ve let me free to take your dough.
I will be there when you’re frustrated,
angry at the slow pace of life
and promise you a quick fix
and if you go along with me, I’ll smash you up once again,
all the way till you can’t pretend.
I destroy families,
dreams,
jobs,
lives
at the spin of the wheel,
the turn of a card,
the roll of the dice,
the price on a horse,
the wagering on stocks,
endless ways to get you to gamble your monies,
and the more you use me the worse it gets.
I’m pushing bets to alleviate the burden,
I’m saying I’m plugging the gaps in your life’s jigsaw,
but the raw truth realised too late can saw through the bone,
as I’m selling lies and deceit and robbers on repeat.
I’m a drug that never ends well.
I will always be there to open a dialogue,
any time you feel despair,
if you’re impatient, needing a way out through jaded means, you’ll find me there.
I care how much you need that money, I really do,
the more you think you need it the more evil I think I’ll do.
First it starts as fun, then it turns sour,
after that I’m looking to entrap you
with that rare win that almost lasted longer than the time it takes to earn a real wage.
I’ll turn on you in a dime when the grapes stop making wine.
You can’t afford to go on holiday,
forget you pay me,
you can’t afford to action your dreams,
forget you pay me,
you’ll have to borrow when you’re supposed to be providing,
you need that money in your account to hide the loss,
forget you pay me!
I’m the devil incarnate,
I’m any thing you want me to be, but your friend.
I’m as clever as you, I’m you but the dark side of faith.
I’ll block out your shine and if you let me make you mine,
by feeding off your impatient time,
I’ll bleed you dry
till you’ll feel you can’t get by.
If any of this has happened to you
it doesn’t have to happen to you ever again.
GA is your antidote,
regular members have stayed off for decades,
never gambled again
the only really thing that keeps the illness in prison,
is making the most of GA,
attend it and work it regularly
knowing life is only one day at a time,
and for those working the programme can and do achieve such great things,
so no matter where you are,
keep strong and positive,
for if you miss your therapy
the joker in the pack will single you out,
for more than a slap.