Redemption

Check out my you tube channel where I read this poem and others from my recent book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJiC_uaqh0s

I am going to dig through
dumpsters today; alone or
with a fellow aluminum
cowboy. Our treasure is
cans. Thank God for
redemption. Each can is
worth a nickel, and if
we get enough of these
shiny miracles, we can
get a pint of vodka,
our oasis in the desert.

I sift through trash bags
full of cat s**t and broken dreams.
I find: losing lottery tickets,
broken costume jewelry, unwanted
books, and a porno magazine.
I examine the jewelry closely,
hoping for a diamond or real pearls;
some silver or gold, something I
can pawn or sell and turn into
liquor- no such luck.
The whole thing smells like
death, and piss, and a
city dump in July.

Sometimes I think it
would be easier to just
quit drinking, but to do it
abruptly could kill me,
the withdraw seizures can be deadly.
As the sun begins to set
on Iowa City, the sky
looks like a butterfly melting.
I haul my black garbage bag, full
of cans, over my shoulder
down the railroad tracks, and
across highway 6.
I stop to vomit behind
a building, then wipe my
face and continue on to
the store- to be redeemed.

Author's Note

Check out my you tube channel where I read my poems from my recent book, Seedy Town Blues Collected Poems, available on Amazon.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJiC_uaqh0s

Reviews

[Poetic Beauty]

Alcoholism is a b***h of a disease. When quitting it is best u set medical supervision because you can have delirium tremors, psychosis, seizures and cardiac arrest among chills and fever and all kinds of other stuff.

This shows the hard side of being an alcoholic and the destruction it can do to someone and depth to which they are willing to go to keep drinking. It a sad
Tail you paint here and one I have witness from friends first hand.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you. Alcoholism nearly killed me. I have 15 months sober. Thank YHWH. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

[Poetic Beauty]

I’m glad you have 15 months sober!! Alcoholism killed one of my friends a few years ago. I’m always happy when people are doing good!! Congratulations on being sober!!

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you.

[Pete]

now this is powerful and real. i know, i lived and hung with addicts and alcoholics for a spell. i've collected cans too. this is beyond poetry. gold medal stuff twc. top-shelf.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, Pete. I appreciate that a lot.

[Chris Shaw]

What a journey to rock bottom. Your description here paints your own hell. Alcohol is a cruel killer when out of control. A tough learning curve Thomas.

Chris

[Thomas W Case]

So true Chris. I wouldn't trade my sobriety for anything. Thanks for stopping by.

[John the Baptist]

Pretty grim, this one, but it does reflect the way some people live. Wine can make you mellow, but it can also land you in the dumpster.

[Thomas W Case]

So true. Thanks for the review, John.