Dear mommy, where are you when I need you?

And by mommy, I mean America

And so where are you to help me when I need relief?

When did the breast get wrestled away from my mouth

And yes I search for new things

I want to do them on my own

Oh, but you think I cannot

Have I been too irresponsible

My credit is ambiguous

How is yours

Now that we’ve been down graded as a second rate economy

And now, thankful to have a job,

Must work late and get raped by your tax system

To afford nothing my area can provide

The nutrients I need are gone

Fed to others

Of questionable heritage

And dedication

Should I outsource myself to a lower, lesser third world market

And where are those that supported me?

Where are they when I needed them?

Drinking a scotch and tonic

Reclining on a whist of ethereal plateau

On a bender of wine

Looking for the words to come later

I promised them nothing

(As was promised me)

And I promise to every single everyone I know

And do okay on my own

But have others to support

And where were you when I needed someone most

It is tough to confront the characters from the iceman

So coldly

But I am going nowhere and they still try

To take advantage

Where is my full moon?

Where is my starry-eyed sky?

Where is heaven in a basket?

And my love

– I love her so –

Tells me to forget

What all I’ve invested

Can you walk away from a full hand?

Across the river is truth

I can see it

I had a chance at the pot

But I have been sold

Douglas Swezey is a local author and poet whose work captures the texture of everyday life and memory. In his winning poem #1483 (Northport, 1986), he reflects on his childhood in Northport, recalling second-run movies, browsing new releases at Tracks on Wax, and lingering in the Village Park under the glow of fluorescent lights by the harbor. Swezey’s writing blends nostalgia with vivid detail, offering readers a window into the rhythms of small-town life and the enduring pull of place. His work continues to celebrate the intersections of personal history and community, grounding intimate experiences in the broader landscape of Long Island.