I’ve often asked myself this question 

That all my strength crack does lessen

I wonder what the lure is 

Over and over again, I don’t know what this is

Every time I think that I am strong

I walk outside with money and find that I am wrong

I am a very smart person with a solid goal

But once I have a hoot it changes my role

Then I tell myself there is no need or reason to use 

But when I find myself using again I get the blues

Sadness envelopes me once I start to think 

Tears are welling up in my eyes so I need to blink

Trying to stay clean is an incredible feat 

But I swear to myself I will not be beat

by Misty-Lee Davis

Misty-Lee Davis is a member of Megaphone's community writing workshop at the Rainier Hotel. She produced two of the pieces in Megaphone's 2012 Voices of the Street literary anthology.

To read the other poem, "Try", click here. To read an interview about her experience in the Megaphone writing workshops, click here.