Turning Back From The Abyss Poem by David Harris
Turning Back From The Abyss
Watch the contents of the bottle go down the sink.
Oh, how I want a drink.
I must resist, I must resist.
The smell of alcohol in the air.
I can almost taste it there.
Temptation is rife.
I must resist the urge, I must resist.
I open the window,
breath deeply in air
This is the first hour,
of the first day.
Time is my enemy
I have to ignore.
If I watch it go slowly,
I’ll only want a drink more.
Must go for a walk,
so its outs of sight
Oh, day turn to night,
night turn to day.
The streets are too busy
for anyone to notice me.
The road back is harder,
than the one I slipped down
The way is steeper.
Take a little step at a time.
With each new passing day,
Must keep the demons
and nightmares at bay.
I might stumble,
but I dare not slip again.
First rid your life of bottles,
shave everyday,
try to look presentable,
clean your clothes.
Theses are my daily vows.
Step out into the sunlight
Hold your head up high
Your going to make it,
through this day.
Tomorrow is somewhere else,
just think of today.
The minutes stretch like hours
You look at bottles on display
The demon inside you tells you
“Go in and buy one.”
No, you can’t go back
now that you’ve started.
Walk by, ignore what you see.
Take no second glance.
Just keep walking away
Temptation may be rife.
You’ve got to fight the urge.
No one said it would be easy
There was no magic cure.
You’ve got to think future,
make it your goal.
With every step you take,
think of smiling faces, cheering you on.
Family and friends, you thought were all gone.
Remember their faces.
See what they see.
They want you back,
the way you used to be.
Happy and loving and care free.
You owe it to yourself,
to see the whole thing through.
If you want that life again
Walk by the temptations,
every step along the way.
Dispel the demon,
everything he has to say.
You can do it if you want to.
Hand will outstretch
to help you through.
The way back is never easy
Take each day as it comes.
Oh, sure there will be bad ones.
You’ll cry for the bottle,
to ease all the pain.
Don’t reach for it
and drag yourself down again.
Remember if you fall this time.
you may never get another chance.
Take it while you’ve got it.
Go one make your stance.
The choice is yours.
The bottle or a new life.
The bottle, loneliness and empty again.
A new life, job, family and friends.
The choice is yours.
Think carefully my friend.
Make all the nightmares end.
I’m strong now, I’ll walk by.
I want what I lost,
all those years ago.
Straight ahead I look,
no second glance take.
I must climb this road,
no matter how long it takes.
29 Jan 2007
It was the small things in this that I found particularly moving: 'Must go out for a walk' 'Shave every day Try to look presentable Clean your clothes' And that these became 'daily vows'. The key is in the mundane stuff isn't it! ! The whole piece is powerful. I've never been a drinker, perhaps because I was aware that this situation is so easy to reach and so hard to escape, and I could never have put myself in the shoes of the clearly determined and worthy character you portray here. You capture the tragedy and the hardship very realistically, with a deft and sparing use of language. Another valuable piece of poetry David. This kind of work increases general understanding of and sympathy for a tragic condition. jim
Firstly, before all else, I would like to thank you. You've been so scarily nice that I wish to thank you with all of my heart. You won't know how exhilerated I felt when i found that you actually took precious time off to comment on each and every one of my poems! For this, my vocabulary and language fails me, for I can only present to you these words: Thank you. It's nice that you have a follow-up to your poems. Is this always the case? For mine, you could say most of them are one-shots. Written by the spur of the moment, and sadly, almost forgotten next. This poem spells hope, even through the bitterness and pain, hope- yes, it shines through. As if the whole world will change to your flow with your steering to the right direction, you show that families do not, in the reality, actually abandon the person even if it seems the case. I like the way you put his healing condition in a positive light, and that: 'You owe it to yourself, ' It has an overpowering sense of achievement that gives determination when all else are so far away. An encouraging poem about alcoholism, the life, and one of hope.
Yes, this is quite the struggle, a harsh and painful struggle at that. Time and time again you try only to fail yet again. Then there comes a time when you tell yourself, this has to end. You've lost the respect of family and friends, you have no self esteem left, yes the road back is difficult. Having said that, as your wonderful poem points out, family and friends will support you on your way back. You can't do it alone, but if you want it bad enough, it will happen. I found prayer was also a very good addition along with family and friends. This is an excellent poem that truly paints a true picture of the struggle. I'm glad you wrote this David, I hope those faceing this stuggle today, have the opportunity to read this very strong poem. Thankyou David, well done.---Melvina--
The lure of the bottle, so strongly expressed here......the urge, the all-encompassing urge to...just have one, just one. So close to the edge of the abyss. A brilliant piece of writing here, David. Love, Fran xx
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/4/2024 3:37:03 PM # 1.0.0.1119
one day at a time... i like this poem david... the struggle to fight an addiction is hard and told so very well my friend...10