Poems From The Twelve Step Podium
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
My Alcoholism
Covered by this thick blanket they call a disease
Running from everything, I was never at ease
Spiritually bankrupt, I never gave myself a chance
Running to the devil daily, just to do his next dance
Bits and pieces of my misery that I still do not recall
Sitting on barstools of emptiness waiting for last call
Waiting for something to pull me from the pit of hell
Sick and tired of everything, the walls I couldn’t scale
Hiding in a cloud of darkness you could not see above
I began to miss my inner child and all of its open love
Checking into hospitals and rehabs, the list was long
Seeing doctors and therapists with the same old song
One night of surrender to God, we decided no more
The next day I started my journey to settle the score
Instead of fighting with everything and going to hell
I must listen for the wind of God and adjust my sail
He brought me back to the rooms where I feel content
Yet another chance at the good life that I’ve been sent
Getting rid of all this pain they call guilt and remorse
God gives me the courage to stay this tough course
For whatever it takes I’m blessed with a real deal
From my daughter’s heart never again will I steal
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About the Book
This one-of-kind book started with my very first poem I wrote, the "My Alcoholism" poem. I awoke one morning in March, 2009, at about 5:00am, with this poem in my head. So as not to forget, I went to the computer room and wrote it down on paper in about 15 minutes. I was not fully awake and proceeded back to bed. After morning breakfast and coffee, I took my daughter, Hannah, to school for the day. I came back home and put this poem into the computer, 99% pure from the first format. I proceeded in the months that followed to have many more inspirations from my "Higher Power". This book is the result of me following direction and using "His Will". In spite of my lack of talent and no experience, this book was completed, and I do believe it is a miracle. "He" provided me with 24 poems, to equal the 12 steps and 12 traditions of our program. I don't believe this to be a coincidence, and in reading this book I hope you will agree. As in our pre-amble primary purpose, I am staying sober today while doing this project, and I hope to help another member to achieve their sobriety. I wish all of you to enjoy this gift from our "Higher Power".
About the Author
Garry Sanders is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict who started in the twelve step program in 1985 at his first rehab when he was 24 years of age. He grew up in a traditional, dysfunctional family of the 60's and 70's. He first got sober in March of 1990 and stayed sober until January of 2003. He relapsed and could not get more than six months of sobriety until September 25th, 2007 when he finally surrendered. He stays very active in the twelve step program with three commitments a week in the Downey and Sunset Beach, Ca. areas. He is currently going through a divorce and lives in Downey, Ca. with his daughter, Hannah, who is ten years old. He is not a poet or writer, just a "normal Joe" who received an inspiration from his "Higher Power". He shared some of these poems with his support group and sponsor, and it was suggested to him to publish them in the hope of helping his fellow man.