THE LONELY  ROAD OF DRUGS AND BOOZE
IS PAVED WITH BITTER TEARS.
FROM THE EYES OF THOSE WHO LOVED ME MOST,
THEY FLOWED FOR MANY YEARS.

I LIE BENEATH THESE PRISON BARS,
ON A CONCRETE SLAB I CALL MY BED.
THERE ARE MANY EVIL THINGS I TRY NOT TO FEAR,
AS ALL KINDS OF THOUGHTS FLOAT THROUGH MY HEAD.

BEFORE THE ROAD WAS PAVED WITH EMPTINESS,
THE ROAD WAS LONG AND WIDE.
AND HEARTACHES LINED THE SHOULDERS
OF THAT ROAD ON EITHER SIDE.

THE ROAD WAS WET AND SLIPPERY,
BUT IT WASN’T FROM THE RAIN.
IT’S FROM THE BROKEN HEARTS AND TEAR-STAINED EYES
OF THOSE WHO BORE THE PAIN.

THAT ROAD WAS PAVED WITH ALL THOSE THINGS
AT EVERY TWIST AND TURN.
I LOOK BACK NOW FROM OFF THAT ROAD
AND THIS IS WHAT I’VE LEARNED.

DRUGS AND BOOZE CONTROLLED ME ONCE,
I TRAVELLED DOWN THAT ROAD YOU SEE.
AND UNTIL NOW I COULDN’T UNDERSTAND
THAT THESE ROADS WERE ALWAYS PAVED BY ME.

........................................
 

Richard Rossi 50337
P.O. Box 3400
Florence, Arizona 85232
Arizona State Prison
1985