Addiction

Addiction.

I chided you only because I truly cared.

I know you didn’t like it, yet I dared

attempt to attain the unreachable goal.

It tore us apart,

leaving a shadow in lieu of my soul.

You trudged along regardless

without guilt or worry.

Never stopping to think

or pausing to say “I’m sorry”

I withdrew the care and love I gave,

painted on a smile

tried to be brave.

Side by side we walk

along the path of life

Yet, a million miles apart

as husband and wife

Author's Note

addiction, care, guilt, worry, sorry, pretence, separate lives...

Reviews

[Alira]

Love can be so painful. So many things can come between two people, and addiction is one of the biggest offenders. It leaves the victim blind to the beauty of what is right in front of them. It hurts to read, and yet the poem says it so beautifully and tenderly. I hope you are doing alright if this piece reflects reality. You are not alone.

[Marie]

Dear Alira, thank you so v-e-r-y much for your beautiful comment and for taking the time to read the poem. Sadly, so many people are affected by their partner's drinking and it drives them apart emotionally. I agree 100% with everything you have said in the comment, Alira. I am most grateful for your kind words. Thank you again, Alira ..

[Alira]

You’re welcome. You’re right, it is a sad reality. Some people are able to heal from it, I’ve known a couple people who are in recovery and it’s a long road. I’m always happy to comment on your work, and I hope you keep posting. You have some very thoughtful things to say.

[Marie]

Thank you so very much for your too kind words, Alira. Yes, some heal from their addiction and as you say it's a very long and winding road to walk. Wishing you a very lovely evening to enjoy. Thank you again, Alira...

[Alira]

Thank you for your kind words. I hope you have a lovely day yourself!

[red93]

Fabulous Work again Marie. Drink is the great evil that Society just does not want to recognise, and which is still socially acceptable. You summed it all up perfectly ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Marie]

I so agree about the abuse of alcohol, dear red93. Thank you so very much for reading and for your very kind comment also. Wishing you a very Happy Solstice and an equally Happy Summer...

[Poetic_Vixen]

The first line breaks my heart, a pleading heart's wails being overlooked of its love, how many times have sweet relationships have broken over arguments where one of them was only expected to understand, it often breaks my heart so much we seen to become the culprit of doubts and blames when we are actually trying to fix things for the both people, these heart aching lines have intricately reflected upon the pain of a falling apart relationship, the hope that is still there in the mask of carefree pretense, the addiction of that beloved to come back home but only lead to parting way futher and further. This was such an heart aching rendition by you Marie...

[Marie]

Dear P.V. you have understood the meaning behind the words so finely, I am in awe! Many a marriage in Ireland is truly cursed by alcohol addiction. At the beginning, one spouse will always try to help the other in every possible way to give up the addiction and failing, will have to withdraw the love and care for that person or sink with them into an early grave. Hope always exists as long as a person cares, but when care has faded, couples may stay together for the children, but the relationship is well and truly buried. Thank you so v-e-r-y much for so kindly reading. I just love your response which has taught me a different point of view and I am most grateful, dear P.V. Thank you again, my dear friend...

[Poetic_Vixen]

It's an agonising truth how such harmful addiction can ruin so many lives, first the couple and then that toxicity carries onto their children, it truly is heartbreaking. I'm grateful to you for sharing this with me Marie, you're most welcome, I always get to understand a whole lot through your perspective and it's the best thing. Sending you a lot of love!

[Marie]

Thank you so very much, dear P.V. I am MOST grateful to you and appreciative of you giving me both your time and beautiful energy. Lots of love to you too, my dear friend...

[Poetic_Vixen]

I'm always happy to, my friend! You're most welcome.

[Marie]

Thank you again, my dear friend. Bless you always...

[Richard🖌]

Greetings, Dear Marie🌾

Welcome back … I'm sincerely happy you've returned.
Your skilled pen has created and shared a beautifully rendered heartwork of poignancy all too many suffer through.
Love for a deeply troubled person, dedication to them, determination to see life's shared challenges with then … even emotional turmoil and eventually realized incompatibility can become an addiction … one so tremendously impossible-seeming to ever break loose from that a soul can almost become lost to it, and yet, even when it eventually drives one away out of frustration and the tirades of hopeless caring, the heavy addiction to years of untold interludes, if ever, may take a lifetime to inwardly break free from.
But, with enough determination and regaining of self-respect, it is possible … often, falling in-love again with the right soulmate can offer a real chance of leaving it all behind, where it ultimately belongs.
From this fervently laid poem, I'm not sure if you've beat this addiction … still, one can care enough to sincerely hope you have or soon will.
One thing you should consider about me is that I'm terrible at interpreting poetry … I can almost hear you giggling at my fumbling efforts … LOL!

A heartfelt blessing to You, Dear Poetess … welcome home! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Marie]

Hello Richard and thank you for your greetings. Thank you for reading my poem on addiction and I am more than happy to say that I am NOT the person who is addicted! This poem is NOT personal. It was written on my observations of my dear neighbour whose husband is addicted to alcohol. They still live together and he still drinks. She still loves him, but she does not like him and so two lives are destroyed by his daily alcohol consumption. It is easy to walk away from the situation, yet... The easy way is not always the best way. Thank you for taking the time out to read this poem. I wish you a very lovely afternoon to enjoy!

[Richard🖌]

I fell victim, here, to the same thing many reading my writings do, when most all of them are merely from life's observations and a vivid imagination.
But, with no pre-noted explanation, who's to know better?
As far as interpreting poetry goes, I rest my case … LOL!

You're most welcome, Marie. 🥂

[Marie]

YES! Hand up! The fault is entirely mine for not having a pre-note explanation.
Thank you again, Richard...

[Ayvid N]

Dear Marie,
So many critical issues in a marriage are highlighted beautifully here. Firstly, the addiction. I appreciate so much the expression of hopelessness. You catch the despair one feels when a spouse is spiraling down a hole. The selfishness of the addict is also well underlined. I was touched by the heartbreak of the wife and sad about her decision to step back. It's very sad when one gives up on a relationship. It's so final. And yet, an addiction always does that kind of damage. This is an awesome poem and one that leads to much thought and introspection too.

[Marie]

Dear Divya, you have demonstrated through excellent word choice exactly the points I was trying to make about addiction. One has to step back from their loved one's addiction and let them get on with the choices they make on a daily basis as nothing will ever change, or else sink with the ship if one remains attached to the person who is addicted. One truly has to live with addiction to know the harm it does to a family, it literally tears them apart to be helpless when everything has been tried to help the addicted person and everything fails because of the choices they are making each day that they live. Bless you for your insightful comment, dear Divya. I thank you with gratitude for taking the time out to read and comment. Bless you always. I wish you a very lovely evening, relaxed and peaceful, enjoy!

[Ayvid N]

Bless you too, dear friend. I hope this poem a lot of success in spreading its message and words of wisdom that the world sorely needs. Stay blessed and keep smiling. ❤️

[Marie]

Thank you and bless you, dear friend Divya...

[emmajoygreen]

In sixteen lines you have displayed a relationship with tragic problems that haves deeply hurt you. Made you feel helpless which hurts even more than a day-to-day situation because you love that someone so much. Comes time that your life is being ripped apart, that nothing helps, nothing survives but hopelessness.

If this is fact, God bless. If this is fiction, God bless your humanity .

'I withdrew the care and love I gave,
painted on a smile
tried to be brave'

[Marie]

Hello Emma and thank you for kindly reading and for your wonderful and very relevant analysis of this poem. It is an inspired write from observations made, but not personal and I am so happy you have so encouragingly shared your views with me. I am most grateful. Thank you again, Emma...

[emmajoygreen]

Was and is my pleasure.

[Marie]

Thank you, dear Emma...

[Betty Hermelee]

When someone has addiction it can easily break up a marriage no matter how many times you say “I will quit “……. It’s much pressure on both parties and ultimately leads to divorce; a very sad situation indeed
Nicely crafted poem Marie
Warmly
B

[Marie]

I agree, Betty. Thank you for kindly reading my poem and for your very kind comment and encouraging comment, dear Betty...

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re very welcome
Warmly, B🌷

[Marie]

Thank you, Betty 🌹🌹🌹