Get Your Premium Membership

Battling Addiction

You  told
               me  once  
               about the
               R e l i e f:
               the  f o g,
               that haze
               of apathy
               that  veils
               the  mind,
               b l urri n g
               the  edges
              of your pain. 
             Can  you  feel
          anything  at all? I  
        watch you drink your 
      life  away, far too many 
     moments  lost,  forgotten
    in that  h a z e. I watch as
   you   f e e d   your  disease, 
   suck yourself dry before you
   suck  me  dry,  draining  me 
   like  one of  your bottles, till
   I'm empty inside. But I can't
   wait around for you to  snap,
   to throw me against the wall.
   I won't  shatter  like a bottle. 
   I won't  burst  in a mosaic of 
   glass  and  light.  You cannot 
   b r e a k   someone   who  is
   already b r o k e n. You can't 
   fix someone with  s l u r r ed 
   apologies  or  promises  that 
   smell  like  stale   alcohol.  I
   can't  be  there  to  drown at 
   the  bottom  of  your   bottle. 
   I’m done  with  rock  bottom.


  For Anne's "Battling Addiction" contest
  Placed: 1st

Copyright © | Year Posted 2013




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

12
Date: 3/8/2021 10:40:00 AM
So beautiful! Courage!
Login to Reply
Date: 12/27/2020 8:56:00 AM
Phenomenally well done.
Login to Reply
Date: 7/14/2020 3:02:00 PM
This is amazing poetry, Heather. I was captivated by the shape, so carefully and perfectly rendered. The words are powerful and have the ring of authenticity. Strong lines: "draining me / like one of your bottles, till / I'm empty inside" and "promises that / smell like stale alcohol". Just awesome... going in my faves ~ John
Login to Reply
Date: 4/11/2013 1:10:00 AM
Excellent poem. Love the shape. You deserve your 1st. place.
Login to Reply
Date: 3/19/2013 8:57:00 AM
I find this poem sad, but not overly depressing; a fine line that takes skill to achieve. It is one of the best-looking shapes I have ever seen.
Login to Reply
Date: 3/13/2013 10:13:00 PM
I commented on this earlier, then found myself telling numerous non-soupers about it. It's really a marvelous piece, and deserves the win. Jack
Login to Reply
Date: 3/12/2013 6:28:00 PM
Beautiful physical shape and highly effective and powerful powerful words. This poems shines like a blade, you deserved this win tenfold.
Login to Reply
Date: 3/10/2013 9:04:00 PM
HEATHER, :-) CONGRATULATIONS in Anne's "Battling Addiction" contest.. I think very highly of Miss Anne, take care~ LINDA
Login to Reply
Date: 3/9/2013 7:54:00 PM
Great great great.
Login to Reply
Date: 3/9/2013 3:43:00 PM
Fantastic!! Congrats are your win!! :)
Login to Reply
Date: 3/9/2013 6:47:00 AM
Cool
Login to Reply
Date: 3/9/2013 5:49:00 AM
Congratulations heather a superb write and shape well done xx
Login to Reply
Date: 3/9/2013 1:06:00 AM
oh yes, I remember this superlative poem!!! Congrats on your well deserved win.
Login to Reply
Date: 3/8/2013 8:12:00 PM
I think I should open a psychic hot line, after all I did predict a first place finish, ha ha ha. Mind you with your skill it was an easy prediction to make.
Login to Reply
Date: 3/8/2013 8:09:00 PM
Without a doubt my hands down favorite. I am so in awe of your talent.
Login to Reply
Date: 3/8/2013 3:24:00 PM
'You cannot break someone who is already broken'...favorite line of many... EXTREMELY effective and compelling using the 'rock bottom' line as the last and bottom line...Whew! - Tim
Login to Reply
Date: 3/8/2013 10:54:00 AM
Excellent poem and form my dear friend Heather! I like it! Big big congratulations on your well-deserved super win! love/hugs, Leonora
Login to Reply
Date: 3/8/2013 6:31:00 AM
Yep...I knew it was gonna be up there...top spot! Go Heather!
Login to Reply
Date: 3/7/2013 10:32:00 PM
Congrats Anne... You deserve the win... :)
Login to Reply
Date: 3/7/2013 8:07:00 PM
Tonight the bottle took you to the top! Great shap and content. RAY
Login to Reply
Date: 3/7/2013 7:13:00 PM
Congratulations heather. Great win!
Login to Reply
Date: 3/7/2013 6:41:00 PM
congrats on a great win Heather
Login to Reply
Date: 3/5/2013 9:24:00 PM
I've returned to this poem several times, never failing to be taken into the clarity, honesty and bravery of your words. They seem barely contained by the form. On first reading I didn't understand the need for the concrete poetic form. However, upon reading it again, I came to realize how important the form is to the power of the writing. Thank you for sharing and trusting. Jack
Login to Reply
Date: 3/4/2013 9:13:00 PM
Very powerful writing! Thanks for putting it into words. J
Login to Reply
Date: 2/26/2013 1:40:00 PM
Ok...this is awesome. Not everyone can pull off a shape or concrete poem. You nailed it. I'll be surprised to not see it near the top of the winner's list....just great
Login to Reply
12

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry