needer needer needer
(First posted on my Facebook timeline)

every last one of us is a needer
oxygen, water
shelter from excess radiation
carbs, protein, fat, trace minerals
companionship (except for a haywire few)

some of us have needs symptomatic of wrong
for instance those who seek alcohol
to fill an unfillable well
and some have need of pistoning action
could be cars could be sex could be fistfights

my deceased younger brother needed needles
judging from the dozens of needles
found in his hovel and car after he died
and that need made him homeless for years
put healed abscesses on his flesh
that looked like put-out cigarette burn scars
gave him hep c and deep sympathy
for his sisters and brothers on the street
left him with a mouthful of dentures
and a need for the love of God and Jesus

he fought bravely and constantly
but with two major cancer surgeries
and unremitting agonizing back pain
he lost his war at the age of 62

and i his brother also have a war on
for i am his brother in addiction
mine involving cards and dice and a little ball
that rolls and clatters and ends up in one
of thirty-eight slots

i am winning the war now
but am no less a needer
and every day is a skirmish
every week a new battleground
every month one more tally mark of victory
or not

and you dear Reader
what sort of Needer
are you?