These words look so pretty when pinned to the page like this .. and the message they make up, has that for real flavour to it .. its never easy tho to quit or get clean tho’ is it .. Bravo for sharing these insights .. just keep taking it one day at a time and write on .. Neville

I spotted the songs hidden within. Yeah, I’ve been lucky being I never participated in alcohol or drugs. They were everywhere but I declined and I’m glad for it.

You’re a courageous guy for being able to go through that and come out sane. (and a great writer). I’ve known people who couldn’t do it and spiraled into oblivion. Good on you, Damian.

Powerful work.

You’re a marvelous writer Damian. This is well written and quite honest. Great work!

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Mary. So glad you connected with the write my friend. It is a reward to get second chance, but it was important for me to understand why and how I became so addicted in the first place. I understand me better now, I’ve even slowly started to like myself a little. lol. That’s my true transformation my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

My best friend from middle school has been sober for over 17 years. I’m so proud of her.
It took her pound of flesh though. Completely different person when drunk. Mean, violent, and in all honesty sometimes sad.
No one wakes up in the morning and says I want to be an alcoholic. The struggle was real and I am so thankful she got sober.
Hang in there and tell the voices to shut the hell up. You got this. One day at a time.

Superb. You nailed it, my friend.

Hauntingly raw and beautifully concise — each line cuts deep with emotional clarity and poetic rhythm. Appreciate you, Damian.

I’ve always felt that if you’re still going…even limping…you’re not broken. You’re fractured. Those fractures heal with aches same as breaks, we both know that. You are fierce in your approach to truth, my friend

When it comes to the heart matters it is always difficult, very difficult to separate the feelings from the mind and make sense of everything… Unfortunately, sometimes we learn in the hard and painful way, and sometimes we need years to completely get over it and grow, the pain is real here, well written my friend.

It is very bewitching. When he tells you to stay calm so his monster does not come out. nice

Crimsin, both tender and fiery this poem is. He tries to elicit your soft side but his true nature brings out the lioness. Great poem as I have come to expect from you.

John

Beautifully penned, Brenda. Incredible write my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

Brilliant work. Powerful.

Brenda, you amaze me with, “of others playing on different courts.” Love that line.

A lovely & fragile piece of poetry Brenda. You always seem to amaze. Great work here.

give me a sip?

I like that a little witches brew should do. Made me smile.

What a fantastic Halloween temptress poem that gripped me as I read. Playful and seductive and so wickedly dark.

John

Cleverly penned, Brenda. Amazing Halloween write my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

Happy Helloween Brenda. This kicks ass! Love the atmosphere you create.

If you could syphon off the witches brew and sell it you’d be a millionaire. It’s a good job, only witches know how to make it.
Great read.
regards
James

I think I’m safe from deathorse for now. You also seem to be safe, given your lack of innocence.
😉

Ooo the reaper. This is menacing.

Powerfully penned, Brenda. Amazing write my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

This is mysteriously dark. It captures the power of the night.
Regards
james

I feel this. Know that you are not alone feeling this way. the statement of “I am tired” cut deep. At one point the feeling of it all and feeling that no one gave a damn was so much…let’s just say I would not be here if I did not have someone. We all do not have that “touch stone” person. I do understand.

Absolutely gobsmackingly brilliant,powerful,honest,scary and sad.
When I read this, the only question. I had was why?Why does one keep holding on when there is nothing left to hold on to?
Why,if God exists,would he torture his children?

Why are we even alive?

Take care my friend.The tide can turn quickly and bring you back to shore.🙏

🤗

Tired,, but alive, broken, but the pieces are all there, they fit together, like the way rain brings flowers. Our tears fill the oceans where all life began. And our scars (whether visible or unseen) become the instruments of our music and can be heard in the cosmos. Willow, your poem resonates like violin strings, hauntingly and with grace. Not sure if you see or feel it, but you give us all the strength to continue, to disturb the universe, like pebbles thrown in the pond, creating ripples that go on forever.

I do not know you, Willow, and have only read a few of your poems, but I am happy you are here.

Curt

Powerfully penned, Willow. The armor does get thinner with time I think it’s part of facing mortality. At least that’s part of it anyways. There are layers as I always say, but it’s tiring indeed. Time catches all of us eventually, but our scars lend to wisdom, even those earned by trial and error. That’s what popped in my head anyways. Excellent write my friend, I can relate. Appreciate you.

Damian

You nailed it. Fantastic work. It’s hell to get old.

This is the first piece of yours I have read, but HER suggested you for membership in our new Spoken Word group. I took her at her word, and though I have not heard any audios by you yet, I wanted to take a peek at just some of your words first. If you have audios, I certainly want to hear them, on the strength of the words you have left here, not what someone has told me. This is brilliant work, Willow, tough, strong, gut-wrenching, sad; it touches all the emotions and pulls the reader in. I will read more, and I want to hear what your work SOUNDS like.