When I walked into those caring rooms <br />I wanted it, and I was welcome <br />No matter, whatever, however <br />We will take you in <br /> <br />They opened their arms and said to me <br />And all drinkers: We know how you feel <br />We know what you feel <br />And hope to help you heal <br /> <br />For all that take part, the <br />Demons of drink have sunk their <br />Claws in them and stayed; <br />Tough to accept, by drink they felt betrayed <br /> <br />I knew that first day that this was right <br />The bottom had been a dark night; <br />Forgiveness was here, near; -a home- <br />There was a loving feeling of not being alone <br /> <br />A miracle of the program, for the <br />Many who deeply try: <br />The craving for drink goes away soon; <br />Now other problems loom <br /> <br />Selfishness, selfcenteredness, grandiosity too <br />I learned those traits held many <br />Sticking to us like glue <br /> <br />Worry, fear and anger <br />Are burrowing worms to cure <br />I had tried to clear the slate of them <br />By drinking to a foggy blur <br /> <br />Forced to face my own character <br />I had to squarely face it's faults <br />I had to move toward honesty <br />Not drinking to a default <br /> <br />The main player in all of this <br />Is a higher power to choose <br />I said 'I give up and I am helpless' <br />And strangely, I didn't lose <br /> <br />I gave up what I thought was power <br />And true loving power I gained <br />My new life is full of promise and joy <br />What I handed over was pain <br /> <br />No drink for me in many years <br />Newcomers a constant flow <br />I get a tingling sensation from God <br />When I watch the new ones grow <br /> <br />This isn't a dreamy miracle <br />Easily handed away-to make it work <br />We keep in touch with God <br />And work at it every day<br /><br />Ray Andrews<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/sos-surviviors-of-suicide-ii-alcohol/
