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Finding Your Voice in Recovery

 

Recovery is a journey of action, but it's also a journey of the heart and mind. Sometimes, the feelings and experiences are too complex for casual conversation. Poetry offers a sanctuary—a private space where you can wrestle with the past, find grace in the present, and articulate hope for the future.

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At Start Recovery Alcohol and Drug Counselling, we believe that creative expression is a vital tool for healing. Whether you are a writer, a reader, or simply a person in need of profound connection, these poems are here to meet you where you are.

 

A Selection of Poems for the Journey

 

Here is a small collection of addiction poems and writing. These poems acknowledge the pain and missteps of the past, offering a path toward self-forgiveness and acceptance. They recognize that recovery means owning your story, not hiding from it.

 

1. Goodbye Mr Green (Processing Guilt and Shame)

 

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​Goodbye Mr Green by Ashley W​

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 So, this is goodbye Mr Green it's time to leave 

It's time to quit your toxic dust I breath 

I have decided you are just not for me 

It's time to turn the page and write a different story 

After all these years spent up in smoke 

And all that time longing for just one last toke 

You have taken my shine, you have taken my spark 

My eyes were light and now they are dark 

Now life is calling and it's time to live 

But I will miss those warm night hugs you give 

So goodbye Mr Green this is the end 

Just so you know i was never your friend. 

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2. The Cloth Eared Moth (Navigating Triggers and Cravings)

 

Life doesn't stop because you're in recovery. These works speak to the grit and resilience required to manage triggers, endure cravings, and stay committed to sobriety, one 24-hour period at a time.

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The Cloth Eared Moth by Mark Franklin

 

I am a moth

ears of cloth

and as I fly

I try to deny

the things I can't hear

because I've eaten my ears

 

I am a moth

ears of cloth

why do I never tire

of flying straight into the fire

I don't hear the call of my friends

as I have no ears to lend

 

I am a moth

ears of cloth

my wings are so burnt

because I've never learnt

how to control

I've lost my soul

 

I am a moth

ears of cloth

now I'm out with no moon

I need to get home soon

but I still cannot hear

and I,m now filled with fear

 

I am a moth

ears of cloth

why can't I see

whats happening to me

my senses shut down

as I spin round and round

I feel so alone

and stripped to the bone

So full of guilt and shame

I do it all again

 

I am a moth

ears of cloth.

 

3. A poem about AA (Hope, Renewal, and Sobriety)

 

anon

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I came to a meeting, all sad and alone,
So sick and tired, of the life I had known.
Aching and dying, deep down inside,
And feeling the pain, from the thing I must hide.

They told me they loved me, and were glad I was there.
Who are these people, and why should they care?
But the more that I listened, the more I could see,
This room full of alcoholics were all just like me.

I started to share, trying hard not to cry,
And I no longer felt like I wanted to die.
I wanted to live, but hadn’t a clue
Of what to say, feel or do.
These people were sober and would show me the way,
So I listened some more to what they had to say.
They spoke of a God, and “just for one day”,
So I thought “What the hell” and I started to pray.

They said, “get a sponsor,” and “keep coming back”.
They said that a program was all I did lack.
They said “work the steps, or your going to die”.
So I got me a sponsor, and I started to try.
I shared with my sponsor, who I had become,
The people I had hurt, and the things I had done.
she told me she loved me, and then shared with me,
The things she had done, and who she used to be.

That’s when I knew, and could finally see,
That if I worked the steps, that I could be free.
Free from booze, and feeling that way.
Free from obsession, just for today.
So I still try to listen to what you have to share,
Tell you I love you, and know that I care.
Let you know I’ve found a much better way.
It’s working a program, we call it A.A.
It’s sharing my experience, strength and hope as I trudge.
It’s living a life, and not holding a grudge.
It’s sharing with newcomers, as they wander in,
And as they start to listen, then they’ll know they can win.

If we all really listen, to what’s being said,
The things that are shared, the book that is read,
If we listen and learn, we will surely see,
How truly delightful sobriety can be.

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Your Words Matter: Why We Encourage Poetry

 

• Emotional Release: Poetry is a safe container for intense feelings like grief, anger, or joy, allowing you to process them without judgment.

• Clarity and Insight: By forcing you to choose precise language, writing can distill a complex experience into a simple, powerful truth.

• Connection: Reading the work of others reminds you that you are not alone; your struggles and triumphs are part of a universal human experience.

 

Ready to start recovery for a Healthier Future?

 

Reading and writing can be powerful complements to professional support. If you're ready to take the next step in your recovery journey, we are here to help.

Start Recovery Alcohol and Drug Counselling offers:

• Individual Therapy: One-on-one addictions based sessions tailored to your unique challenges.

• Family Support: Resources and counselling for loved ones affected by addiction.