Drowning Naked

April 19

DROWNING NAKED

Bare and exposed, I laid myself on the altar of my home group.  With AA as my only Source, I emptied the contents of my soul and bore the mantle of overexposure.  But vultures lurked in many rooms.  I was safely guided, by persons of my gender, to the more secluded and effective place of transmission.  I thrust myself into the arms and mind of my sponsor.  She escorted me up the steps with the door closed and taught me how and when it could be prudently opened.  AA is a power greater than me.  So is the ocean.  Precaution needs to be taken when wading in.  Care must be exercised as to how much to bare.

Wrap your intentions in wool to keep them warm and in gold to keep them untarnished.

*

Bound

The reason the sleeves of my disease

wrap around and tie in the back

is so that I will struggle with change.

Alcoholism is my straightjacket

and my goal is that ‘loose garment life’

I’ve heard so much about.

The sweat I work up

from railing against my confining existence

causes petulance, frothing and enervation,

Defeat is the landing on which I collapse,

acceptance a flight of steps away.

My ailment leads me to believe

I have nothing to hold onto as I adjust.

Though this isn’t true,

the fact remains that this is still

a process of letting go.

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

http://www.amazon.com/Sober-On-The-Way-Sane/dp/1440417342/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388576888&sr=8-1&keywords=sober+on+the+way+to+sane

http://www.amazon.com/More-Lines-From-My-Life/dp/1448677203/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388576956&sr=8-1&keywords=More+Lines+From+My+Life

Bound

April 21

Bound

The reason the sleeves of my disease wrap around and tie in the back is so that I will struggle with change.  Alcoholism is my straightjacket and my goal is that ‘loose garment life’ I’ve heard so much about.  The sweat I work up from railing against my confining existence causes petulance.  Frothing and enervated, defeat is the landing on which I collapse, acceptance a flight of steps away.  My ailment leads me to believe I have nothing to hold onto as I adjust; and though this isn’t true, the fact remains that this is still a process of letting go.

Have a parenthetical lunch with a friend

*

PINK CLOUD

When the pink cloud lands in my valley

My task is to walk

The pleasure of its presence can never outweigh

The practice this cloud affords me.

Walking in a haze of cherry blossom lightness

The future is a blur I do not fear

Forward motion seeds my inertia

I will keep on.

When the test begins

And I must proceed in the obscurity of night

The lively steps of pink-cloud days

Will cheer and empower me.

I can imbed my future with right action

And bank the confidence I feel today

Saving it for the rain swept days which come to everyone

Progress is positive even when made in bliss.

Drowning Naked

April 19

DROWNING NAKED

Bare and exposed, I laid myself on the altar of my home group. With AA as my only Source, I emptied the contents of my soul and bore the mantle of overexposure. But vultures lurked in many rooms. I was safely guided, by persons of my gender, to the more secluded and effective place of transmission. I thrust myself into the arms and mind of my sponsor. She escorted me up the steps with the door closed and taught me how and when it could be prudently opened. AA is a power greater than me. So is the ocean. Precaution needs to be taken when wading in. Care must be exercised as to how much to bare.

Wrap your intentions in wool to keep them warm and in gold to keep them untarnished.

*

Bound

The reason the sleeves of my disease

wrap around and tie in the back

is so that I will struggle with change.

Alcoholism is my straightjacket

and my goal is that ‘loose garment life’

I’ve heard so much about.

The sweat I work up

from railing against my confining existence

causes petulance, frothing and enervated,

Defeat is the landing on which I collapse,

acceptance a flight of steps away.

My ailment leads me to believe

I have nothing to hold onto as I adjust.

Though this isn’t true,

the fact remains that this is still

a process of letting go.

Bound

April 21

Bound

The reason the sleeves of my disease wrap around and tie in the back is so that I will struggle with change. Alcoholism is my straightjacket and my goal is that ‘loose garment life’ I’ve heard so much about. The sweat I work up from railing against my confining existence causes petulance. Frothing and enervated, defeat is the landing on which I collapse, acceptance a flight of steps away. My ailment leads me to believe I have nothing to hold onto as I adjust; and though this isn’t true, the fact remains that this is still a process of letting go.

Have a parenthetical lunch with a friend

*

PINK CLOUD

When the pink cloud lands in my valley

My task is to walk

The pleasure of its presence can never outweigh

The practice this cloud affords me.

Walking in a haze of cherry blossom lightness

The future is a blur I do not fear

Forward motion seeds my inertia

I will keep on.

When the test begins

And I must proceed in the obscurity of night

The lively steps of pink-cloud days

Will cheer and empower me.

I can imbed my future with right action

And bank the confidence I feel today

Saving it for the rain swept days which come to everyone

Progress is positive even when made in bliss.