The Doctor said you were sitting on a fence
Somewhere between here and rock bottom,
But you wouldn’t go to the halfway house
Where help was offered and had to be earned.

I was a fool to bring you home and give you
Yet another chance to stop drinking for good.
All you had to do was stay sober, find a job
And go to ninety meetings in ninety days.

It took three days for the spin cycle to kick in
And a full load of clean sheets was thrown
From a whirling barrel onto the dirty floor.
I don’t think I can fix the machine this time.

Four months ago we said goodbye to my family
And got ready to head south for the winter.
I hope this parting memory will haunt and
Inspire you for the rest of your life.

My three-year-old granddaughter
Stood at the top of the stairs
With tears streaming down her face and asked,
“Where are you going, Auntie 'M'?”

You gave her such a big hug full of love
And told her that you weren’t going forever.
But the quicksand already held your leg,
Just waiting for you to struggle and sink.

Waiting to pull you down to rock bottom.