Look At Me Now

Challenge Answer - Embrace The Joy (not my best by any stretch to the imagination, but hey I tried)

Look at this wino,

Sober at last,

Smiling and laughing

And sharing such wonder.

Look at this boozer

With light in her eyes,

Sitting round’ tables

With folks who don’t mix.

Look at this inebriate,

Humble and content,

Hand holding hand,

Joining in prayer.

Look at this alcoholic,

A recovering drunk,

Grateful for her past,

And focused on today.

Author's Note

Please feel free to be as constructively honest as you wish. Any suggestions or corrections are much appreciated. Do not rate or review based on opinion or subject of this piece. If you would like the favor returned please send me a read request or a message with the piece you wish for me to review! Happy writing :D

Reviews

[Rocans]

There is light in this. A streak of optimism, a trait that I am woefully deficient of. Alcoholism is an affliction that is downplayed and underestimated. Nice theme Briana. Thanks for sharing.

[Briana O'Connor]

thank you :D I agree. being one who has been through it and still struggles sometimes I know that it is nothing to be downplayed

[kublakhan27]

Not my strongest suit either haha But you did a great job generating a sense of optimism and bringing this character to life, and making it easy to pull for her...I love the bit about 'folks who don't mix'...there are so many ways to interpret it in light of the theme...I enjoyed this one a lot, it's nice to read a hopeful piece once in a while...great work Briana.

[Briana O'Connor]

Thank you :D

[kublakhan27]

You're very welcome :)

[Rana]

Beautifully speaks of hope, of recovery, of the silver lining that every cloud out there has. The way you've tried to catch the attention of the readers is cool.

[Briana O'Connor]

Thank you :D

[Beccy]

No need of any kind of critique. This is excellent, the stanzas blend really well together and the message that addiction, once broken, will lead to a better life, comes through loud and clear.

Beccy.

[Briana O'Connor]

thank you very much for your kind words :D

[R Smith]

why not your best? it seems to have enough social comment and constructive writing, it hits hard and offers light at the end of the tunnel, yep definitely one of your best and a 'POKE' in the right direction.....................sorry could'nt resist, guess I had to throw that in sooner or later haha

[Briana O'Connor]

Poke me one more gen and I'm gonna poke you with fire! :D

[R Smith]

sounds hot stuff babe hahahahaha

[Briana O'Connor]

It will be hot, but I don't know if you'll enjoy it as much as I will :D

[R Smith]

ok I surrender !

[Briana O'Connor]

Damn skippy! You do not wanna mess with a pyro :D

[R Smith]

mercy oh mighty fire queen :P

[Briana O'Connor]

Tee hee. :D

[Baby Ricochet]

Praise be to all the twelve steppers who finally took the only cure.

[Briana O'Connor]

Yes indeed! Thank you for reading :D

[Patricia]

Great word choices, stanza breaks and subject! It is a very striking poem. I really think it is wonderfully written and don't have any thoughts to changes. Great work. Keep at it, you are a wonderful writer. :)

[Briana O'Connor]

Wow! Thank you so much for your kind words.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

There is a light at the end of every tunnel, we just need to clear the haze from our eyes to see it.
Very nice work.

[Briana O'Connor]

thank you :D

[The Rock And Roll Cowboy(REBEL WITH A CAUSE)]

You are welcome.

[Jack Wolfe]

Look at this Wino, Boozer, inebriate, alcoholic . . . whew, for a second there I thought you were talking about me, (doesn’t help that I’m drinking a tallboy while reading this). Okay, on a more serious note, alcohol/drug addiction becomes the reigning master to its slave, and even when the slave finally breaks free . . . a new life follows, but those scars and temptations never leave. ‘Grateful for her past’ this can be interpreted several ways, as it true our past builds us, but more often than not the Past is trying to be forgotten, especially to an addict (coming from a former addict.)

[Briana O'Connor]

Thank you for your insight. The term you speak of refers to the phrase "We do not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it" It's a common quote we use to remember that our past can be learned from and that we are stronger and truly blessed having gotten through it in one piece.

[MomzillaNC]

That's the healing space everyone needs. To recognize their struggle and give them room to overcome it. Too often, that healing space is never offered by a world far quicker to condemn than to understand.

[Briana O'Connor]

thank you :D

[MomzillaNC]

You're welcome.

[MomzillaNC]

Oh. I didn't realize this was your answer to the "Embrace the Joy" challenge. Those every single day achievements of a recovering addict are all great things to be joyful for: each moment overcoming in that struggle -- each and every moment -- is a victory.

[Briana O'Connor]

Ya I couldn't come up with anything else. Right now the fact that I can stay sober through the hardships is the only joy I can grasp sometimes. Other days I can come up with a lot of joyful things, but it's been a hard couple months.

[MomzillaNC]

It's a very good answer to the challenge. The point was to look at your day to day and find beauty and joy in it. You did that very well.

[Briana O'Connor]

Thank you :D

[MomzillaNC]

You're welcome.