The group sat in a circle
tucked in black leather-
limbs twitching,
aches of spiders and snakes
crawled under their skin
She drew them in-
with words from the pages
of tattered poetry books,
thumbed well and side notes
stuck with yellow post-its
Pens, paper, random word list
- hope prevailed
they listened and laughed,
wrote with tiger eyes
ears that pricked innocently
Apart from one-
who'd lost himself, curled-up
inside his lonely headroom;
filled with words and people,
she caught his eye, he rolled the detox dice
Author notes
working with clients detoxing from drugs
this was from a session in a group-work environment- clients were engaged in doing creative writing and poetry reading
Written August 26th, 2006
In a list
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Comments
1 - 18 of 18
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thank you Brian..
yeah.. they certainly prowl about, the clients that is .. -
You've done a nice job with this. Good presentation, smooth development through events and characters. "Tiger eyes and ears" is a nice touch.
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This is fantastic Gill. Thank the heavens for people like you that are in this line of work and health....to hold a lamp for those who are trying to find their way.
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"- hope prevailed
they listened and laughed,
wrote with tiger eyes
ears that pricked innocently"
Gorgeous penning, Gill...Vivid depictions of the internal wilderness that longs to find solace, even if "only" in words...Beautifully penned & gracefully lived, my Friend...
Wanda
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your insight is the focus of this piece.it shows how amazingly astute you are in your observance of your everyday surroundings.it shows the beauty of a soul who sees poetry in such dire circumstances and is able to give them a postive reflection.this showcase your talent to a great degree as well as lets the beautiful light in you shine.
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well I dont use postits of any color, usually corners of papertowels stuck on with spit..
But this is great anyway. A wonderful feature of a place like this is getting to know so many things thru the expertice(sp) of others...are there any english teachers out there?
good one NurseC
D -
I use it as my pressure cooker release valve..
a way to get shit out.. we are forever writing in notes, records,files.. but that is factual stuff..
this is my therapy of sorts..
thanks Nicolette for your lovely words and encouragement -
Like you, I too work in the human professions (social work) and have worked for years with alcohol and drug addicts. Hard work, but it can also be so rewarding and at times one see the humorous side of it too (yes, the sadness and the anger too..). Somehow your poem reminds me of the book "A million little pieces" - which gave me so much more insight into the struggle to be free from addictions.
I love it that you are able to make poetry out of your life's work. Don't our jobs present us with the most amazing "raw material"? I find it hard to write about the broken circles I see everyday, but maybe it is because I do a lot of professional writing too. I loved the scene you've created here and how you've highlighted the healing power of creativity, Gill. Thank you for this!
~ Nicolette -
thank you Kat... I do love my job, even when things get bumpy and a bit rough.. it's still worthwhile
thanks for your support and friendship too
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inspiring gill
love the comments on post its
all our particular ways to tag our beloved poems
i am moved by the work you do and offer
both with groups and with your own writing
and appreciate the interface
of both
here is to thumbed well tattered books
and to those in recovery willing to stalk with page
with the risk you show so well
kat -
aye lad
many thanks Proph... it's good having you back here..
squirrels are fun to watch
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hell lil' chilly, this was a frame from my typical morning, although it includes drinking with:
"with words from the pages
of tattered poetry books,
thumbed well and side notes
stuck with yellow post-its"
but i have to tell ya .... it's fun at 5 am to watch the squirrels play .... nice work luv winks -
indeed-
and I love stationary too.. i purposely stick those cute little tag postits to things.. just so i can open a new packet.. my desk here, is loaded with all manner of mini bulldog clips, jotter pads, staples.. and it goes on and on
as for the clients, it's usually a group they love to do and surprisingly enough, they've produced some fine work too...
thankyou you lovely AssKissin' Lady
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thank god for life that gives us our material, right?
ya know, I'm a bit of a stationery nut, love those shops, collect nice implements like colours paper clips and smooth fineline pens. I buy my post-its in colours, though it seems absurd to pay more for them. I suppose it's like perfume or a painting on the wall - aesthetics have value. My latest are little narrow flag post-its, in turquoise, purple, lime green. I got suckered in, but oh I love my poetry books with rainbows of those little markers.
Anyhow, that's a tangent set off by the image of your books with the yellow post-its. Funny what a poem can evoke, or just a line from a poem.
"wrote with tiger eyes" - I see that wild look, and I see eyes bright with perceptiveness. Very cool image. That these people would take such a risk as to write poetry just blows me away.
Love these insights into your world.
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thank you Jan.. yes- I think so too, that you do it very well too.. must be the observant part of our jobs and such.. the keen eagle eyes and stuff
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In these types of writes you do something that I've been told I do taking bits of your everyday and making them poetry. It's a mere glimpse into that world I realize, but you do it well.
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Angel of the damned....their angel of mercy.
This is why I said those things:
You took a group from aching, and twitching with withdrawals, to laughing, and listening, and writing. Then was able to draw in that one last recluse, that one scared skeptic, and made him feel like taking a risk and rolling those detox dice.
This is why you are a beacon for lost souls, and the salvation from a life of despair for so many. You give so freely and readily, and you in return gain their trust, their respect, and make them see a better way.
You are an inspiration, and this write is wonderful, it reflects the heart of a woman who cares.
~Sherry~
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good
such vivid description and imagery. I could really "see" this group of people in my mind, but I am so glad you explained in your authors comments. this had great imagery and flowed well, good job.
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