Tommy Doesn't Play Much Anymore

Tommy Doesn’t Play Much*

Tommy doesn’t play much . . . any more.
He doesn’t care . . . to . . . explore.
He has no thoughts . . . of his own.
He spends most of his time . . . alone.

Tommy listens to his teacher. He’s a good little boy.
He’s his parents’ . . . pride . . . and joy.
Though when the firebell sounds, it don’t appear . . .
Tom . . . can hear.

Tommy don’t ask: “Where?” Or “When?”
Since his shrink . . . gave him Ritalin.†
He’s never a pain. He’s a good little boy.
His parents’ drugged . . . pride . . . and joy.

Tommy’s easy to please. He don’t need many toys.
You see, he finds fun . . . in life’s simple joys.
He does the same thing—again, and again.
Since his shrink . . . gave him Ritalin.

But though he’s in a world . . . all his own—
Tom’s . . . not alone.
’Cuz the number of kids . . . on this pill . . .
Was (at last count) two-point-five mill.‡

Tommy’s limbs . . . start . . .  to twitch.
His doctor . . . can’t ’splain that itch.
And Tommy’s grown—not tall, but thin—
Since his shrink . . . gave him Ritalin.

Tommy screams . . . as the gnats and flies . . .
Crawl in his ears. And . . . in his eyes.§
He’s strapped down tight. And it seems a crime . . .
He won’t be playing. For a long . . . long . . . time.

*Inspired by Talking Back to Ritalin by Peter R. Breggin, M.D.
†(rit'l in) A prescription stimulant commonly used to treat Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
‡According to the Center for Disease Control, the number of U.S. children aged 4 through 17 on Ritalin in 2003.
§One of the possible side effects of Ritalin is feeling like insects are crawling on you.

Copyright © 2009 by Liz Purcell.