Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Valium



Mother's Little Helper! Does that ring a bell?
Were you addicted to the drug? Not telling? ......Very well.
'The Age of Anxiety' brought it on. It was 1963
And ladies swallowed it by the tonne so they could be worry-free.
The name is derived from 'being strong' (that was Latin, of course)
And for twenty years 'the helper' was a really potent force.
Were the children getting you down? Did you feel depressed?
Were you menopausal? And, you know, all the rest?
Pop a pill! Lie down for a bit! And life would look good again.
A last you'd feel able to cope with kids, the dinner, and awkward men.
Barbara Gordon wrote a book.....'I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can!'
After that a decline in popularity began.
For she told of her addiction! How the pill was no solution!
She lost her mind and ended up in a mental institution!
Various celebrities soon owned-up after that
Though many, many, many more just kept it under their hat!
Tinkering with the brain creates more problems than it cures.
Sadly the urge to 'pop a pill' is an urge that still endures.
*
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EDIFICE

(A Cinquain)


Edifice.
Revered, historical.
Towering, preserving, dominating.
Framed by the trees.
Cathedral
*

13 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Marvelous post as always and you're so right about the pill popping! Too much of it and it never solves the problem. Hope your week is going well, Brenda! Enjoy!

Sylvia

photowannabe said...

Totally fascinating.
I never knew that valium was a drug of choice. How sad to think that a pill can solve everything. it really says a lot for our culture.

brenda w said...

Nice job on Valium! It carred a tone of television advertisement that worked it well. Clever.

I like your cinquain, as well. You anchored it with two great nouns. Beautiful!

Tumblewords: said...

Love the cinquain. I do remember the age of valium. Several weeks ago, I watched a documentary that suggested the pharmaceutical companies had been instrumental in passing this 'wonder' to other countries as well. We seem to be slow learners and avid vice grabbers. Excellent post!

Kim, USA said...

Very interesting poem! Thanks for sharing!


ABC Wednesday~V

Gayle said...

Yes, too many pills in the world. I prefer a day at the spa to help me relax! (smile)

Gattina said...

That's an excellent reminder not to abuse of drugs !
I take a Valium only when I am too tired to fall asleep, but that only happens after a long trip to another country. In fact I use it as sleeping pill, lol ! Didn't even know that it would help for depressions, I always thought it was just to calm one down.

Mara said...

The only pills I ever popped to excess were aspirins. My stomach will never be the same again.

jingle said...

fabulous and open minded v post.
Smiles!

Roger Owen Green said...

my father gave me one of his Valium once; did not like it.

love the Stones reference!

ROG, ABC Wednesday team

jay said...

That immediately brings the Stones to mind! 'And you run for the shelter of your Mother's Little Helper .. '

I was prescribed it once, but it didn't do a thing for me, and I stopped taking it.

Beverley Baird said...

What a great post! Valium had never entered my mind for V - thankfully! lol
Take care.

Cheryl said...

Yep, I remember the songs and the ads very well. Great take on this not-so magic pill.