Rock Bottom Poem by Annalise Bennett

Rock Bottom is some fictitious, far off land
Where folks always say change is waiting…
I didn't find change waiting for me…
At Rock Bottom.

I found the empty, hollow faces
Of drug addicts and war veterans,
I heard some of the loneliest tales
Of abandonment, loss, and disappointment;
Some of which mirrored my own tales
of grief, bitterness, and survival.
I found kindred spirits at Rock Bottom.

I found her…
Hungry and scared…just as lonely and broken as I was.
Unable to feed herself or even to get out of bed
So we worked…Little by little; day-by-day
As I fed her and helped teach her how to walk,
I found my purpose at Rock Bottom.

I found you…
You - who I had purposefully hurt -
You - who I had tried and tried to push away -
You - who kept coming back -
You - who loved me even though -
I found unconditional love at Rock Bottom.

I didn't find change waiting for me….
At Rock Bottom.
I found friends, purpose, and you.