LIFE OF GAMBLING by Semone Owens

Like a slave in shackles to the game.

Can’t obstruct like a bee to honey,
He sheds all his money,
No longer a sense of shame.

Mistreating is children and wife.

Dreadful of this horrid monster,
Peer, prowl, prey this horrid creature,
No longer in control of his life.

Betrayal and silly lies.

So cunning and deceitful,

Economically wasteful,

On the brink of his demise.

Seduced by miss Addiction.

Lured by this Gold digger,
The illusion you’ll gain bigger,
Instead cursed with coins of affliction.

No more family and friends.

Just can’t break free,
Why does he fail to see?
Miss Addiction pretends.
 RATIONALE FOR POEM
The reflective piece I’ve chosen to do, is entitled “life of Gambling,” depicts the

lifestyle of a man addicted to gambling. Each stanza deals with aspect of the life of

dealing with the addiction and how it impacts on his life and his family. My inspiration to

conduct this research aroused as my uncle who experienced the addiction to gambling

on horse racing family relationship was destroyed and I decided to enquire what it was

like for him and various challenges he encountered as a result.

Poetry is one of my selected genres because I believe that poetry is a positive

way to convey feelings and deep thoughts. It enables me to express the issues faced in

such a way that it would be easily communicated to the readers. Poetry also captivates

the audience’s attention very well as it has a catchy rhythm. It will therefore allow the

message being sent in the poem to be conveyed more vividly as it enables them to

create a visual imagery of the issues faced.

The piece targets mainly Adults, both those faced with the addiction to gambling

on horse racing and those who are not, as it will help individuals to understand the

impact on family relationship.

The purpose of the poem is to make persons aware of this issue as a crucial

problem and the extent of this problem, so persons affected can be offered assistance

and given professional help.

The poem can be utilized in focus group discussions on gambling. In

addition it can be read in radio talk show which deals with gambling addiction. So

persons faced with and affected by the addiction will receive the message.