We often use the term addiction to exaggerate our attachment to objects or behaviors. At the same time, we also discount the ease with which we can become addicted. With opiate crisis affecting individuals and families just about everywhere we look, this underestimation could be a serious mistake.

Addictive behavior is much more than chemical dependence. Anything that gives us pleasure can be addictive, if we are honest with ourselves. Watching television, checking our cell phones, eating sugar are likely addictions shared by nearly everyone you might see on the street, addictions that span class, geography, and race.

Our addictions can fuel us and destroy us. And they make great writing subjects. Sometimes, there is a confessional aspect to writing about an addiction, sometimes it can be constructive, sometimes cathartic.

PROMPT

Write a poem about coffee or your favorite addiction.