A Horse of a Different Color

March 3

The Horse of a Different Stripe

When I arrived at the horse and pony show, I saw all there was to see; there were Morgans, Walkers, and Paints.  Yet I couldn’t help, but return to this particular zebra, the spark of my imagination, the inspiration of my dreams.  There was no help for me, I want what I want and need what I need.  It was all about spirit, all about soul; the fire in its eyes matched the burning of my heart, ignition at the point of recognition.  Then I stumble, then I fall, bad behavior and wrong thinking, the selfishness of the self-involved takes hold and runs my mouth, “Nice mount, great steed, But can nothing be done about these stripes?” The flash in those eyes, the knowing knickers, said it all.  I was trying to stay in my small place and that would never work with her, if I wanted the Zebra, I had to be willing to go to Africa.

Respect randomness

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DICHOTOMY'S' EMBRACE

Contentment and security
Bleed in through the doors and windows of my heart.
Peace blows its fine wind across my mind.

I fear for my identity
I raise my hand to beat the drum
Is my pulse still here if the beat of discontent is not?

The warmth seeps in
My fingers uncurl
I resist the urge to tilt my face to the sun.

How can I be I
If my countenance is not bleak?
Mirth escapes my lips, Am I a creature of laughter?

My brain feels through levels of sheltered memory
I am old and age hangs from my brow
I am young and exposure stings my flesh.

In all this----Joy?
Where can I enfold this antithesis
Shadows play across shade.

A child of extremes, Yes
Brooding and rage, howling and silence
How have sprinkles and starlight added to the mix?

Purring, musing and sweet kisses
What am I in this embrace?

You are reading selections from More Sober on the Way to Sane and Lines From My Life by Sherrie Theriault

http://www.amazon.com/More-Sober-The-Way-Sane/dp/144141231X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1374072329&sr=8-3&keywords=sober+on+the+way+to+sane

http://www.amazon.com/Lines-My-Life-Sherrie-Theriault/dp/1448652820/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374072576&sr=1-1&keywords=Lines+from+my+life%2C+Sherrie+theriault

A Horse of a Different Stripe

March 3

The Horse of a Different Stripe

When I arrived at the horse and pony show, I saw all there was to see; there were Morgans, Walkers, and Paints.  Yet I couldn’t help, but return to this particular zebra, the spark of my imagination, the inspiration of my dreams.  There was no help for me, I want what I want and need what I need.  It was all about spirit, all about soul; the fire in its eyes matched the burning of my heart, ignition at the point of recognition.  Then I stumble, then I fall, bad behavior and wrong thinking, the selfishness of the self-involved takes hold and runs my mouth, “Nice mount, great steed, But can nothing be done about these stripes?” The flash in those eyes, the knowing knickers, said it all.  I was trying to stay in my small place and that would never work with her, if I wanted the Zebra, I had to be willing to go to Africa.

Respect randomness

*

DICHOTOMY'S' EMBRACE

Contentment and security
Bleed in through the doors and windows of my heart.
Peace blows its fine wind across my mind.

I fear for my identity
I raise my hand to beat the drum
Is my pulse still here if the beat of discontent is not?

The warmth seeps in
My fingers uncurl
I resist the urge to tilt my face to the sun.

How can I be I
If my countenance is not bleak?
Mirth escapes my lips, Am I a creature of laughter?

My brain feels through levels of sheltered memory
I am old and age hangs from my brow
I am young and exposure stings my flesh.

In all this----Joy?
Where can I enfold this antithesis
Shadows play across shade.

A child of extremes, Yes
Brooding and rage, howling and silence
How have sprinkles and starlight added to the mix?

Purring, musing and sweet kisses
What am I in this embrace?

Noun, Verb, Adjective

July 12

NOUN, VERB, ADJECTIVE

Model Sobriety (mod`<sup>e</sup>l so-bri`i te), n., v., adj., 1. model sobriety acts like clay. Durable and flexible it molds to any situation.  2. model sobriety is like a clotheshorse; everything you put on it fits and looks good.  3. model sobriety is the 24-hour version of a life-long process.  4.  model sobriety is a set of axioms with which we interpret truth.  5.  model sobriety is what we put in the window for other sufferers to see.  6.  model sobriety is the mirror we use to learn what is natural.  7. model sobriety eliminates extremes in behavior and thinking.  8. model sobriety is the mode by which we become a channel.  9.  model sobriety is the definition in and of my life.  Noun, verb, and adjective.

Write an acrostic poem for a dog.

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Old Nasty

My addiction is like a Percheron,

bigger and more powerful than I am,

but what I have learned is that if I treat this horse

with due respect and a guiding hand

from my recovery and my Higher Power

I can harness the energy of my illness

and use its’ force to make my life work.

I can never be the master of alcoholism,

but I can see it for what it is;

an overgrown instinct looking for an outlet.

When I am given my way out I take this beast with me

and when I value that partnership we are both safe.

When I have tried to lock it in a stall

and run far from the barn, it kicks my life down.

When I put my head in the yoke willingly,

together we are led and we do the work

which is fulfilling and rich.

I was meant to work in a team,

I am grateful to have a teammate.