Why does the talented vibrant woman
pick the jerk?

Perhaps, I will open my eyes instead of my thighs next time.

The hummingbird was trapped in the greenhouse.

He went there with his friend.

They laughed and played among the flowers.

Neither one keeping track of the hours.

They reminded me of Soul

Lost in the wonderousness of beauty

Not knowing it was trapped until it attempted to express

The Joy.

The Pit

Although the seasons

Come and go,

I pray that my sobriety

Will constantly grow.

For years on end

I’ve tried to quit,

To pull myself out

 Of that deep, dark pit.

It was years ago

 When I fell into the trap,

It’s filled with alcohol,

 Drugs and crap.

The walls are soaked

 With suffering and pain,

The guilt and remorse

Eat away at my brain.

I pulled myself out

 A couple of times,

But I fell back into

The stinking slime.

Each time I fell

Things got worse,

Will ever get rid

Of this terrible curse?

About a month ago,

Much to my surprise,

A rope (was) dangling

In front of my eyes.

I grabbed and pulled

So desperately,

I’d thought there was

No hope left for me.

As each day went by,

I pulled closer to the top,

The light is so bright;

 I feel my eyes will pop.

Finally, I’ve pulled myself out of that pit,

I’m a thankful sober person wherever I sit.

I pray to God, to help me with this affliction,

So I’ll never go back to that pit of addiction.

I pray and give thanks to all who helped me,

Because of your kindness, now I can see.

The rope that was thrown so lovingly to me,

Had a note at the end, I can clearly see.

It says, “Keep things simple,” “One day at a time.”

Because if you don’t, you’ll be back in that slime.

I wondered who would care about a drunk like me,

And down in the corner it read, “God is with thee.”

Thanks for my new life.

-guest poet

George M./Chicken George.

excerpt from Volume 1 Issue 4 April 2008 Vox Populus

The Community Village Newsletter

Grande Prairie, Alberta Canada.

inserted in this blog with permission of the author. 

“When the sun in the morning

Peaks over the hill

I wake up with the lilacs

On Mocking Bird Hill

Trah laa lah tweedly dee dee

It gives me a thrill

To wake up in the morning

On Mocking Bird Hill”

Oh what rejoicing to hear that old song

I remember how wonderful it was to sing along.

I was just a young woman

Or perhaps a wild child

Life was so full of wonder.

Curiosity had its own wondrous pile

I lived in Europe in the sixties

It was “flower power” you see.

I was young, curious and romantic

It was great to be me.

I had long flowing hair

Dyed strawberry-Blondie

There was open air markets

The vendors sang their song.

“Fresh fruit”  and “flowers”  ”soft hot brochien” too.

They would haggle their prices

They expected you to.

Large knock-wurst and veisswurst

On a large open bun

Then the Dusseldorf mustard added to the fun.

You bit into to the sausage

You don’t have to guess

Big gobs of mustard ran over your chin

Dripped onto your dress.

You threw back your head in a mischievous grin.

Stashing a dill pickle for the walk home

The hills of the city were my favorite places to roam.

The talking and laughter when you rode the tour bus

Was nothing like the silence you get here with us.

The soccer matches were blaring above the conversational roar

Oh, the great magic as they called out the score.

Because I spoke English they thought Britain my team

So they poured  my congratulations in a never-ending stream

Of liquid libations in various glasses.

I often wonder if Germany had won that day

How in the world  was I ever going to pay

For all the eighty nationals riding on the tour

I think I would still be washing dishes

That is for sure.

We took the bus to ride on the boat

Down the Rhine to the castle tour

The dirt in the river kept it afloat.

My landlord’s wife had packed us a lunch

There were garlic sandwiches

We were a stinking bunch.

We toured through the castles

We walked up to the turrets

Oh what a view

Of farm lands and gentle hills

Industrial areas too.

The hospitality of the castles

Included the wine cellars

With the various flavors in a wondrous display

I lived there for almost six years

No wonder I have ‘dementia’ today.

Seriously folks I have had a great life

My memories of the travel, step-children, hard work

Gives spring to my step today.

Life is here in this moment.

I learned of many cultures

Many songs and stories too.

Most of all I learned how important it is

To awaken with song.

To give of that beauty all day long.

Sometimes it flows easy.

Sometimes there are shards.

But I do my  best.

Give the Master the rest

I do not make my life hard.

So ask I you when you look inward

Give yourself a break

Know that you are poetry in motion

For goodness sake….

Know that and be that.

Your Light will shine through.

Know that “life is worth the living”

Be kind,  be more forgiving

In all that you do.

Now I ask you with a open hand

Ain’t life grand?

She shared her story.

You could see it was true.

She talked of pain and hardship.

She spoke of recovery

How she made it through.

(Just like me and you.)

She shared from her heart.

She told it with all her love.

She told it like a steel fist

Wrapped in a velvet glove.

Her words gripped my heart.

Her words made me laugh.

Her words helped me cry.

Her words helped me identify.

Her journey outlined my path.

I did not have to ask why.

I looked in and knew her heart

Like never before.

When she was finished

I wanted to hear more.

I want to ask questions.

“What did you do when you felt…lonely?

How did you get past a parent’s death?”

(It was as if she had heard me.)

She spoke of “repreieve’.

She spoke of the miracle.

She spoke of the truth of the program…

This wonderful addict

In the ‘green velvet dress”

I know, now, why recovery is her life.

I do not have to guess.

She spoke with great courage.

She spoke with the voice

Of one who stood for her choices.

I can truly rejoice.

I thank the Master

Who gave her the call.

I thank the dear lady

Who shared with us all.

What a shining example

Of recovery she is.

She was honest, straightforward,

Out-spoken and plain.

Then in the next breathe

You could hear

Her Higher Power’s eloquence reign.

It was a wonderful experience

Of renewal for me

Sitting there with the newcomer.

There with her friends

She told her story

It made several hearts mend.

Edification, empowerment too….

Yes, dear addict in the green dress,

My hat’s off to you.

Beware of outbreaks of Laughter.

Beware of moments of Joy.

Guard against unreasonable contentment.

Be on the look out for a outbreaks of Gratitude.

These are definite signs of recovery.

Have you ever

Heard the laughter

Of the folks

Who made it “Home”?

The ones who walked

Wondered and waited

Just to see a smile.

Recovery is a joyous gift

That brightens up the Soul.

The laughter returns as we share

Our Journey to the things that made us whole.

Thanks for the song of laughter

That gives laughter to my night.

Thanks for the smile

That makes it worthwhile

As you show me how to live.

Admist the chaos and confusion

While working through the Steps

You get a chance for Soul’s romance

In learning how to forgive.

Having a disease that can destroy and maim

Caused me to search everywhere

Before recovery was mine to claim.

I thank you for your laughter

I treasure it and tuck it in my heart.

While living in the moment

Laughter is a great place to start.

Is there email in Heaven?

Well, I suppose there is of a sort.

The instant communication that is very deep in the heart

Is conveyed and received before the “thought’ starts.

The all knowing,

The all being,

The all seeing place

Has a deep serenity

Sitting so close to God’s face.

That love and the assurance

In this moment is mine

When I practice the presence

Of love’s own Divine.

It is a Sunshine Sunny Sunday

The storm has passed for now.

The green of spring is ‘doing its thing’

As on my knees I bow.

Winter’s pains no longer near

The opening leaves do now appear.

The world is again a wondrous place.

The Sunlight of the Spirit

Conveys God’s Grace.

The Light and  Sound

Are dancing in a sacred rhyme

The Soul that they are filling

Oh blessed be, is mine.

The joys of life

Are all contained in Now.

I want to share this with you.

I want you to hear the Voice.

I want you to know the Master.

But you know,  it is your choice.

The Sunlight of the Spirit

Is now filling up my room

The Sound in celebration

Gives victory over gloom.

The Light is healing corners of my little place.

In the Silence of the morning

Your Love shows me your Face.

Oh, blessed wondrous morning

Will stay with me all day

When I live in the moment.

When I dedicate my day…

To love, to service and to laughter

To listening to your Voice.

The Sunlight of the Spirit

Gives Soul a cause to rejoice.

Thank you my dear Master

For giving me this day

Guide my steps to follow

This precious narrow way.

I give thanks for all within me.

I give thanks for all without.

The Sunshine Sunny Sunday

Has banished clouds of doubt.

Now, kindly Holy Spirit

May I sprinkle on the way

Some of your Love

To my family

To the friends who’ve been so kind

May I give any extra measure

To those who feel left behind.

The love in your Abundance

To be shared with all through me

May I share this wondrous moment

In Sunlight’s eternity.

If one drop of your sweet nectar

Could hide behind my smile

I know that I would truly be

Living in the Now

That my life has been worth while.

May I be a mirror of your Beauty

May I be a little kinder

May I speak with loving praise

Of all those you will send me

On these sunny sunny days.

May your Love be an umbrella

When the storm clouds do appear

May the Sunlight of the Spirit

Give Victory over Fear.

May I serve with loving patience

All those who ‘get in my face’

May I live with respect and loving

Giving all your creatures place.

To love and grow and flourish

To be listening to your Voice

Thanks for your Loving Mercy

Thanks for this wondrous Choice.