Michael Keens
Feb 12, 2023
This poem is part of the contest:

Neopoem Of The Week February 12th to February 18th 2023

(Read More...)

Between a Rock and a Soft Place

A boulder tumbles, from a cliff to the sea
A rock, a soft place, and the air in between.
On one side there’s trauma, on the other there’s hope
I have parents who care, but I struggle to cope.
The rock gathers moss, as it rolls then it falls
It was forcibly moved, then it fell and lost all.
But what the rock lost, as it plunged to the sea
Was the moss that it gathered, and so it was cleaned.
I drift through life, move from here to there
With no control of my course, like the flow of the air.
I’m the air, and the rock and the sea, all three
Cos, I go with the flow, when life’s hard, but I’m free
Where I land will be soft - the sea
Then, I'll be finally be clean.

About This Poem

Last Few Words: This is about overcoming addiction. Was made homeless because of it. And i'm torn between hardship and what is good - being alive and family. The air is where i'm at. but at the same time, im also able to be all three.

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Country/Region: Hants

Favorite Poets: Honestly

More from this author

Comments

Geezer

this can be your affirmation and the way to forge new links to reality. You will keep overcoming, never give up! ~ Geezer.
.

Rosewood Apothecary

You just put one foot in front of the other. Then you do it again and again. Sorry you’re struggling. I’m no stranger to substance abuse and it’s pretty consuming. I hope you get settled. Nice job on the poem.

Tim

Rosewood Apothecary

Haven’t touched hard drugs in 18 years. I’ve been sober from alcohol for 7. I’m currently still addicted to coffee, cannabis, and creativity.

Tim

M

I've never smoked weed. heroin and crack but somehow never weed! It seems pretty safe relative to other drugs though. coffee is healthy, Good for your liver. Creativity surely isn't an addiction but if it is then would not go to a CA meeting...

Rosewood Apothecary

…the amount of coffee I drink is good for a human. Lol. Like over half a gallon of it a day!

It is healthier than crack which I also have some experience with. It’s pretty handy if you’re looking to stay up drinking beers for three days. I never really enjoyed it or powdered cocaine very much. I don’t have experience with opiates in a recreational setting. I’m a survivor of a Traumatic Brain Injury and I wouldn’t have gotten through those first four days after brain surgery without morphine. I also learned how gross it makes you feel after and they got me off opiates within a week.

The things we really get addicted to are dopamine and serotonin. The substance are merely different ways to over activate the release of these awesome brain chemicals. I personally am fairly addicted to oxytocin.

I hope you get those demons sorted out,
Tim

M

oh okay, yeah probs not healthy then. but at least keeps you awake like crack so you can read and write. I always hate sleeping cos seems such a waste of life. shud probably drink coffee instead of so much booze

P

I was moved by your poem, Michael, and could see much of myself in the struggles and in the addiction of false thinking and useless self-talk. But your creative Muse seems to be bringing you order out of chaos. Thank you.