Dear Ann Landers,
Will you please reprint the poem on alcoholism that I have enclosed? As you can see, my copy has yellowed with age and is difficult to read. It deserves a rerun. -- J.F. in Glendora, Calif.

Dear J.F.,
With pleasure. It appeared in my column several years ago and is one of my favorites. Unfortunately, I have been unable to identify the author. Positively Negative We drank for joy and became miserable. We drank for sociability and became argumentative. We drank for sophistication and became obnoxious. We drank for friendship and became enemies. We drank to help us sleep and awakened exhausted. We drank to gain strength, and it made us weaker. We drank for exhilaration and ended up depressed. We drank for "medical reasons" and acquired health problems. We drank to help us calm down and ended up with the shakes. We drank to get more confidence and became afraid. We drank to make conversation flow more easily, and the words came out slurred and incoherent. We drank to diminish our problems and saw them multiply. We drank to feel heavenly and ended up feeling like hell.

Dear Ann Landers,
I am a 60-year-old man who doesn't have any interest in anything or anyone. I'm bored with everybody I meet. I am bored with my job and bored with my life. I grew up in an orphanage and am unable to show love because I never had any as a child. It is impossible for me to keep a relationship going. Either I lose interest or the other party does. I wish there were some way I could feel like I did 30 years ago, when I was full of ambition and looking forward to the future. Is there any hope for me, or should I just resign myself to boredom for the rest of my life? Thanks for listening, Ann. -- Bored in Brooklyn

Dear Brooklyn,
You aren't bored; you are depressed. But you don't have to stay that way for the rest of your life. See a doctor, and ask for an antidepressant that will help you. Along with the medication, sign up for some talking sessions with a psychologist. You also need to become involved in activities that will help you feel better about yourself. I'm talking about service to others. Be a volunteer. When you encounter people with real problems, yours won't look so serious. Don't delay. Get going as soon as you read this. And please write again and let me know how you're doing.

Dear Ann Landers,
Our daughter, who is away at college, is suffering from depression. She is on medication and seeing a therapist at school. "Maya's" first semester was a nightmare, partly because her father refused to let her come home to visit, even though the college is only three hours away. I finally overruled him and insisted she drive home for the weekend. I could see how debilitating the depression was. If Maya cannot survive another semester and wants to come home, I don't know what my husband will do. We have been married for 20 years, and he is getting harder and harder to deal with. I'm tired of arguing with him, but I have to stand up for my daughter. Not every child can be sent away from home at age 18 and cope. If anything should happen to her, I would never forgive myself. Should I bring Maya home and tell her to go to school in town, or do you think my husband is right in saying she should tough it out? -- Virginia Beach Mom

Dear Virginia Beach,
If your daughter is on medication, she must have a doctor who prescribed it. Consult with him about whether Maya should tough it out. She sounds emotionally fragile, and this could push her over the edge.