The poem "Shooting Up In Vain", by Eagle Eye Cherry, uses widespread use of imagery to convey the caustic influence of drugs on an individual. The deep, dark imagery in this poem greatly contributes to the overall shady feeling of this poem. The imagery begins instantaneously in the first sentence. "Waking up as the sun goes down" (1), demonstrates an almost demonic quality about the protagonist in this piece of writing, giving the image of someone …showed first 75 words of 212 total…

…showed last 75 words of 212 total…this poem feels the physical portion with his "Body all in pain"(2), and the mental drag when he feels sells everything that means anything to him including his wedding ring just to uphold his habit. This poem may have other underlying messages but the author's main point is clear and in the open, drugs won't get you anywhere, and if you hop on that one way train there's a good chance you aren't coming back.