Monday, February 28, 2005

frankie_2/15/2005_10 years_a poem

25 February 2005

never did I think I would have one year times ten
and, boy, I do remember when
I walked in that door without a friend

My story is nothing new
John Barleycorn led me to a life gone astray
I drank, I drank, I drank until I came to AA
And decided to live life a brand new way

He was very coy and inviting
One whiskey sour, my life became exciting
A johnny walker, followed by a beer, beer, beer
My life began to slowly disappear
The night was endless, always one more
then everyone was gone as I woke up on the floor

never thinking something was wrong
once I checked in, I never checked out
it was always the same old song
drinking, drinking, drinking, stumbling along

and so as I celebrate tonight
it’s not just about giving up the fight
the message is very clear
just one drink and I’ll no longer belong here
so I thank AA and all of you
for this new life with a new attitude
one filled with lots of gratitude
for all the help you have given me
from the clutches of John Barleycorn
you have set me free

BIG JOHN_'96_a poem

this is something i wrote to john k.,
who has helped me a lot
1996

I remember I was at Bill’s Place
You were the tallest guy I did see
I just had to go and ask you
“will you give your phone number to me?”
you gave me a big grin, a laugh, my hand you did shake
my loneliness slipped away that night
because another friend I did make

when you, so quietly, sneaked your wife’s bankcard out of her purse
to go out at night for a little rum
I’ll bet the next morning, when you woke up w/all the money gone
You said “oh, higher power, what have I done”

When Sarah found out about what you did
Came to you screaming, crying, throwing dishes – she said
“where’s the money, john, the gig is up”
I’ll bet you wished you were dead

When times get tough, as they sometimes do
“I don’t care no more” you may think
We all pray you stop!!!
think of how much we need you here and say
“will anything really get better if I take a drink”

it really doesn’t matter how tall you are
that first drink you take---real fast---you’ll get pretty small
and remember—
we all know that big, big, big heart of yours is the best part of all
so thanks for your love and acceptance and so much more
you’re the greatest--- and still the tallest
at the meetings