He’d give up
His firstborn 
For an eight ball

Mother always blamed
It on the drugs

When he got fired from the plant
When he didn’t come home for a week
And a half
When he forgot her birthday
When he wrecked the pickup
When he hit her

Mother wanted her kids to have
Their father in their lives

Since she didn’t

He wanted to do bumps off the key
to death’s door
While a stranger told her to push

She’s never stopped pushing