If you give a 53 year-old ecstasy
she will think about her daughter
and start to regret the friction.
She will want a pen and paper
to write a letter of apology.
Then she will want an airplane ticket
and two months off from work
to live in the hotel down the street
from her daughter's family.
She will come over every day
and try to build trust among
the indoctrinated grandchildren.
She will want solid, wooden
puzzles, yarn-based crafts,
and wholesome, artisanal treats.
When the campaign fails,
because she overstepped the bounds
with inappropriate spanking
and she is sent packing,
she will want a return-ticket home.
She may want a stool reserved at the
Bottoms Up bar downtown,
a liberal tab for tequila sunrises,
and her own pole. But don't let her have one.
Cut her tequila tab short.
If she wants a 10-course trial
of Vikram Yoga, she can have that,
and the Hatha meditation retreat
(unless the swami is seeking new recruits—
then send her to the Buddhist one instead.)
When she comes back, she will tell you
the self is an illusion, life has no point,
and how indifferent she feels
toward that unawakened daughter
and her spoiled family.
That is when you should give her
another dose of ecstasy.