This is a line by line commentary of the author’s intent with the poem “”Do Tell.”
“What do you tell a drug addict?”
“One who feels he is messed up”: messed up and isn’t a whole person. Or a good person. One who feels like he’s messed up his life and the lives of others as well.
“Remorse over”: read like “Make a choice for the remorse to be over or finished.”
“What he has done?”: what has he done? I don’t remember.
“You show him the skills”: The skills to move on, the skills to lose the guilt and see that everyone has made mistakes. You show him the skills to forgive himself and also the skills to forgive others. The author is also demanding of herself to be the one to show her son-in-law.
“He’s learned on the way”: You show him he’s not the same person he was before. He has learned on his way through life, just like we all have. Yes, his path has been difficult, more for him than for most, but he has learned to walk easier now.
“Like being in charge of supply”: just like this poem can and does have multiple meanings, so does everything else. You are in charge of what you supply your brain with and what you choose to find meaning in. You are also in charge of what you choose to think. In addition, you like being in charge of what you think. You like being in charge of what you supply other’s with.
“And demand. Like reworking”: This is a plea for the person to demand of themselves that they enjoy reworking the way they view things. Just make a decision. Demand it, which is emphasized by the period.
“The budget and finding the cash”: budget or discipline your emotion and find the payout in your outlook and even your outcome (Your daily life).
“Like being fiercely protective of that”: The author likes the fact that her son-in-law is fiercely protective of her daughter. Also, she wants him to know he has been fiercely protective of his drug and has the ability to be protective of his mindset as well. And she wants him to know he will like being that way, he will enjoy the process.
“That he loves”: The author wants her son to know he is loved by Jesus. She wants her son to know that she knows he loves his wife. She wants her son to know that he is capable of loving himself as well.
“You show them to find the gold”: The author shows her true meaning with a puzzle. Shows her son-in-law that true gold or treasure is found in understanding and making a choice to think in a way that benefits yourself.
“In the shit. You show them”: Acknowledgement that the situation is very bad but show them both it can be better. Also,” You show them,” is a command the author makes to herself to be sure to lead by example. And to communicate her feelings to them.
“The show isn’t over yet.”: heavy emphasis with a period as though this is the final thing. The show or the showing is complete or all encompassing it shows every facet of the situation and also the showing will not cease, it Isn’t over yet.
“You love him. The end.”: heavy emphasis with two periods. You-the author- love him (the son-in-law); and You-the author-love Him-Jesus. And You – the son-in-law love as well. The end is final, it ends in love which is the beginning.
Purple Pennies 