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



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12
Date: 3/8/2021 10:40:00 AM
So beautiful! Courage!
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Date: 12/27/2020 8:56:00 AM
Phenomenally well done.
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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
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Date: 4/11/2013 1:10:00 AM
Excellent poem. Love the shape. You deserve your 1st. place.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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Date: 3/9/2013 7:54:00 PM
Great great great.
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Date: 3/9/2013 3:43:00 PM
Fantastic!! Congrats are your win!! :)
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Date: 3/9/2013 6:47:00 AM
Cool
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Date: 3/9/2013 5:49:00 AM
Congratulations heather a superb write and shape well done xx
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Date: 3/9/2013 1:06:00 AM
oh yes, I remember this superlative poem!!! Congrats on your well deserved win.
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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.
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Date: 3/8/2013 8:09:00 PM
Without a doubt my hands down favorite. I am so in awe of your talent.
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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
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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
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Date: 3/8/2013 6:31:00 AM
Yep...I knew it was gonna be up there...top spot! Go Heather!
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Date: 3/7/2013 10:32:00 PM
Congrats Anne... You deserve the win... :)
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Date: 3/7/2013 8:07:00 PM
Tonight the bottle took you to the top! Great shap and content. RAY
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Date: 3/7/2013 7:13:00 PM
Congratulations heather. Great win!
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Date: 3/7/2013 6:41:00 PM
congrats on a great win Heather
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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
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Date: 3/4/2013 9:13:00 PM
Very powerful writing! Thanks for putting it into words. J
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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
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12
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