Title: Second to the Bottle

Disclaimer: I don't own SVU

a/n: I'm not much of a poet, but this idea was nagging at me for a while, and it just wasn't long enough to make into a story...so please be gentle!


I always tried to please you, Mom

I really did try

I got good grades,

Always did as you told me

And sometimes,

I acted as parent,

When you could not

Or chose not

Through all your drinking,

I was able to see

The pained woman inside

Just begging for help

And I cared for you,

I loved you

And tried to make sure

That no one ever hurt you

Mom, I tried,

I really did

But when I needed you,

You were never there

All you did was

Go deeper into that bottle

Mom, I tried,

I really did

But none of that mattered,

Did it?

Because I always came second,

Second to that bottle

That you clutched even closer

To your heart

Than your own flesh and blood

I graduated high school,

And you weren't there

I became a cop

But you never praised me

But now it's too late

It's too late for that now

Because you're gone,

And I'm still here

Craving that affection

That only a mother can give

Always wanting

Even just a "Good job."

But I'm stuck

I'll ever be craving

A mother who loves me

I'm sorry, Mom

That I didn't do enough for you

Enough for you to show me

How much you cared

At least, I hope you did

I'll never know

What you really thought of me

Every time I tried

To fix things,

You pushed me away

Because I always came second

Second to that bottle

That slowly but surely

Led you to your death

And that's all I'll ever be

Is second to the bottle.