“Joy’s House,” a sober house for women located in North Miami Florida, will be hosting a charity raffle to raise money for its foundation and recovery efforts. The raffle will be highlighted by one very sought after piece of art valued at $25,000.00 from Grammy award winning artist, Jim Warren. Warren donated the piece, called “Survior” (the painting featured in the post), to benefit Joy’s House. Tickets for the raffle are on sale now for only $20.00 a piece. However, tickets are limited to 1,200 spots, so we suggest not waiting long if you’re interested.

Joy’s House was established by Charlie G., a recovering alcoholic and editor of the recovery magazine, “It’s All In The Journey.” Charlie G. started consuming heavily to cope with the unfortunate loss of his daughter but has since made a recovery through the 12 Step Fellowships (AA & NA) and launched “It’s All In The Journey” magazine and Joy’s House in memory of his daughter, Joy.

At the official Joy’s House website, the sober house is explained in the following way: “Our house is based on 12-step principles & Joy’s House is located near 5 different 12 step meeting rooms. Attending a 12 step meeting daily is required in the first 3 months (90 meetings in 90 days).” For anyone interested in purchasing raffle tickets for the event, please check out the following link: http://www.joyshouse.eventbrite.com/. For any other inquiries, please contact the Joy House at their email: info@JoysHouse.info or call 786-227-4842

Hey all, Ernesto here. Recovery Arts presents its second official recovery poetry submission. It comes from Mykal in New York, who has just a few months in recovery.
We thank you for your contribution Mykal.

Mykal wrote “Sorry if the poem is a little dark. I wrote it when I was really struggling with my addiction. Anyway, I’m sending it because maybe someone out there will be able to connect with it and understand there not alone.” Please find the poem “Icarus Trajectory” below.

Icarus Trajectory –

I’m never really here
or there.
An anchor dragging
across the sea floor,
for a place to stay.

I’m more like a shadow
at night,
a shadow of a shadow.
A shadow burned
into a Hiroshima wall.

I’m constant,
moving even in my sleep.
Seasick in my dreams.
A banged up anvil
with tarp, covering
it.

I search
like a predator,
or a bird for seed.
Like a vulture.

I find a well
dried up.
An oasis, no, just a mirage.
A fountain
running endlessly.

I want to stop.
To cease.
Turn a humming bird’s wings
to stone.
But continue,
flapping my granite
feathers,
sinking from the weight
of my marble bones.

The “about” page reads about the author of Alcoholic Poet in a creative way, intertwining the various masks (the daughter, the alcoholic, the poet), as Jung would describe, while also managing to through quantum physics and time travel into the mix. Updated daily, alcoholicpoet.com boasts hundreds of alcoholic-related poems that are divided by months and quantity. Just by looking at the lengthy romantic column, I deduced that the Alcoholic Poet has been in existence for five years. Wow, that’s a volume of work that can probably go head to head with the most prolific writers of our times—five years worth of poetry.

Each poem has its own title and ranges between short-to-mid range, length wise. After reading several poems from the website’s archives, the words “Sad Pomes. Think. Write. Drink. This is the sour womb where that dying fetus gestates,” in the header, ring all too clearly. Poem after poem, Alcoholicpoet.com, features emotionally gripping lines that keep the reader captivated, while utilizing metaphor and poetic language masterfully. For someone in recovery, the site can serve as an inspiration to express addiction, and the feelings associated with it, in a creative way. Be it in the sections titled “Alcohol Poems,” “Addiction Poems” or “Acceptance Poems,” Alcoholicpoet.com has something to offer everyone.

To read the Alcoholic Poet’s poems or learn more about the site, visit it at: alcoholicpoet.com, or click on the link for the site on “Our Friends” blogroll.

April 30: National Poem-In-Your-Pocket Day

Tomorrow, April 30, will mark the seventh annual “National Poem-In-Your-Pocket Day.”  The initiative is being hosted by New York City as part of National Poetry Month (April).  The idea of the holiday is to spread the enthusiasms about poetry by carrying a poem in your pocket.  Any poem counts, so carry your own or one of your favorites; just be sure to share it with friends, family, and colleagues as part of National Poem-In-Your-Pocket Day.

As part of this year’s ceremonies, New York will present a slew of poetry-inspired events throughout the city, including a full-day of scheduled open-mic sessions for NYC public school students in Bryant Park, and much more.  This year’s National Poem-In-Your-Pocket Day events, scheduled for NYC, include poetry readings, spoken word performances and youth poetry slams. For those in the NYC interested, please check out the events listing below, and remember that you’re never too young or old to actively involve yourself in poetry.

NYC 7th Annual Poem in Your Pocket Day (2009):
“Bryant Park Poem In Your Pocket Day Celebration”
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2008
11:00AM – 3:00PM

Where: Bryant Park Reading Room – 6th Ave. @ 42nd St.
By subway: B,D,F,V to 42nd St., 7 to 5th Ave. By bus: M42, M104, to 6th Ave. @ 42nd St.; M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, Q32 to 5th Ave. @ 42nd St.

There will also be free book of poetry handed out at Bryant Park; only one book per person while the supply lasts.  The scheduled events for the day will also include guest performers by NYC student poets, as well as Elizabeth Swados and Bob Holman.

Folk singer and songwriter, Mary Gauthier, admittedly struggled with addiction for years, and in a recent interview with canoe.ca, said thanks to her recovery process, she was able to pursue her real love in life, “Folk Music.” Mary Gauthier was born an orphan in New Orleans, went through adoption homes, and by 15 had spent most of her time between rehab centers, friend’s homes and brief stays in jail, including the night of her 18th birthday.

Still, she some how managed to make it out of the negative environment and move to Boston, where she studied at a cooking school and eventually opened her own successful Cajun restaurant. Unfortunately, her addiction had also followed her and was choking her dream of music over the entire 11 years she was in Boston.

However, Mary Gauthier was able to begin her recovery from her addiction and finally begin to seriously pursue her art. Gauthier said the canoe.ca interview that although some people think drugs aid in the artistic process, for her it was only after she was able to “get my head on straight first” that she was able to shine.

Since, she has recorded several albums including her 1997 debut album, Dixie Kitchen, inspired by those many hard years she left behind. Her latest album, Between Daylight and Dark explores the concept of home and is about being homesick. Mary Gauthier’s accomplishments as a musician have awarded her the praise of critics who compare her to Bob Dylan. Aside from playing music, Gauthier’s style of storytelling through her folk lyrics have led her to the literary venture of publishing short-fiction stories in an anthology called Amplified, which comes out in May.

Hey all, Ernesto here. Recovery Arts is proud to announce our first “Recovery Art” contribution. The submission was sent by Adrien of Arizona, who has less than a year in recovery. Thanks a lot for sharing your Recovery Art, Adrien. Hopefully this piece of art will serve to inspire other people to also express themselves in creative ways and to keep on trucking down the path of recovery. Please find the painting “The Duality of Addiction” below, along with some of Adrien’s sentiments on recovery and the role art can play to help someone in recovery that is seeking an alternative outlet to consuming:

“I’ve been clean for almost a year now. I always wanted to paint, because I’m a creative person, but when I was getting high there was always an excuse and distraction that kept me from the positive things that I wanted to actively pursue. Nonetheless, after I started attending group and staying away from bad influences, I found myself with more free time, so I picked up the brush and started putting my thoughts and feeling on the canvas. To me, “The Duality of Addiction” was one of the paintings that highlighted me trying to part with the dark side of myself that led me to using. The painting served as a way of saying goodbye to my addiction.”

Adrien

Recovery Poetry: A Couple Acrostic Poems on Daily Meditations

Greetings all, Ernesto here. Recovery Arts has been fortunate enough to receive another creative and artful expression from someone who is in recovery. As part of our “Recovery Poetry” section, these two acrostic poems come to us from John and are about today’s meditations and what they mean to him. Acrostic poems are a class of poems that use certain letters and their positions, usually the first letters of every line, when read down, to spell out a bigger message.

I hope that John’s poems and the Recovery Poetry section it can help others on their path. The focus of John’s message on the first poem was “Just for today.” He added, in reference to the second that “everyone should have one and be grateful for them.” Thanks a lot for sharing John.

H–aving
A–nger controlled
P–eople to call
P–laces to go (meetings)
I–nsanity eased
N–ewcomers to greet &
E–mbracing
S–piritual principals &
S–haring SMILES!!!!!!!!!!!!!


S–ober and serene
P–erson
O–ffering
N–ewcomers
S–uggestions
O–n
R–ecovery

I’d like to begin by posting one of my own poems. I titled this one Hallelujah Unsung, and it’s about a couple of friends of mine, one of whom is a recovering addict in jail and another that died of a heroine overdose…

Hallelujah Unsung –

A makeshift Tattoo gun
reveals the  unseen

Like sidewalk forgotten rooftops
from a neighboring balcony

Decisions that slide
to a life time of consequence

the bloody ink mockingbird
harkens from a shoulder

As it swoops and takes the Monarch
by the roadside, it tells a tragedy
of an unaware pedestrian

So much depends on a tiny scratch
on the lens of the Hubble

Or the dollar bill that wins the lotto

There is a train whose coming shakes the field,
and a man in a windowless cell that wipes his tears
as it passes.

“Joy’s House,” a sober house for women located in North Miami Florida, will be hosting a charity raffle to raise money for its foundation and recovery efforts. The raffle will be highlighted by one very sought after piece of art valued at $25,000.00 from Grammy award winning artist, Jim Warren. Warren donated the piece, called “Survior” (the painting featured in the post), to benefit Joy’s House. Tickets for the raffle are on sale now for only $20.00 a piece. However, tickets are limited to 1,200 spots, so we suggest not waiting long if you’re interested.

Joy’s House was established by Charlie G., a recovering alcoholic and editor of the recovery magazine, “It’s All In The Journey.” Charlie G. started consuming heavily to cope with the unfortunate loss of his daughter but has since made a recovery through the 12 Step Fellowships (AA & NA) and launched “It’s All In The Journey” magazine and Joy’s House in memory of his daughter, Joy.

At the official Joy’s House website, the sober house is explained in the following way: “Our house is based on 12-step principles & Joy’s House is located near 5 different 12 step meeting rooms. Attending a 12 step meeting daily is required in the first 3 months (90 meetings in 90 days).” For anyone interested in purchasing raffle tickets for the event, please check out the following link: http://www.joyshouse.eventbrite.com/. For any other inquiries, please contact the Joy House at their email: info@JoysHouse.info or call 786-227-4842

Hey all, Ernesto here. Recovery Arts presents its second official recovery poetry submission. It comes from Mykal in New York, who has just a few months in recovery.
We thank you for your contribution Mykal.

Mykal wrote “Sorry if the poem is a little dark. I wrote it when I was really struggling with my addiction. Anyway, I’m sending it because maybe someone out there will be able to connect with it and understand there not alone.” Please find the poem “Icarus Trajectory” below.

Icarus Trajectory –

I’m never really here
or there.
An anchor dragging
across the sea floor,
for a place to stay.

I’m more like a shadow
at night,
a shadow of a shadow.
A shadow burned
into a Hiroshima wall.

I’m constant,
moving even in my sleep.
Seasick in my dreams.
A banged up anvil
with tarp, covering
it.

I search
like a predator,
or a bird for seed.
Like a vulture.

I find a well
dried up.
An oasis, no, just a mirage.
A fountain
running endlessly.

I want to stop.
To cease.
Turn a humming bird’s wings
to stone.
But continue,
flapping my granite
feathers,
sinking from the weight
of my marble bones.

The “about” page reads about the author of Alcoholic Poet in a creative way, intertwining the various masks (the daughter, the alcoholic, the poet), as Jung would describe, while also managing to through quantum physics and time travel into the mix. Updated daily, alcoholicpoet.com boasts hundreds of alcoholic-related poems that are divided by months and quantity. Just by looking at the lengthy romantic column, I deduced that the Alcoholic Poet has been in existence for five years. Wow, that’s a volume of work that can probably go head to head with the most prolific writers of our times—five years worth of poetry.

Each poem has its own title and ranges between short-to-mid range, length wise. After reading several poems from the website’s archives, the words “Sad Pomes. Think. Write. Drink. This is the sour womb where that dying fetus gestates,” in the header, ring all too clearly. Poem after poem, Alcoholicpoet.com, features emotionally gripping lines that keep the reader captivated, while utilizing metaphor and poetic language masterfully. For someone in recovery, the site can serve as an inspiration to express addiction, and the feelings associated with it, in a creative way. Be it in the sections titled “Alcohol Poems,” “Addiction Poems” or “Acceptance Poems,” Alcoholicpoet.com has something to offer everyone.

To read the Alcoholic Poet’s poems or learn more about the site, visit it at: alcoholicpoet.com, or click on the link for the site on “Our Friends” blogroll.

April 30: National Poem-In-Your-Pocket Day

Tomorrow, April 30, will mark the seventh annual “National Poem-In-Your-Pocket Day.”  The initiative is being hosted by New York City as part of National Poetry Month (April).  The idea of the holiday is to spread the enthusiasms about poetry by carrying a poem in your pocket.  Any poem counts, so carry your own or one of your favorites; just be sure to share it with friends, family, and colleagues as part of National Poem-In-Your-Pocket Day.

As part of this year’s ceremonies, New York will present a slew of poetry-inspired events throughout the city, including a full-day of scheduled open-mic sessions for NYC public school students in Bryant Park, and much more.  This year’s National Poem-In-Your-Pocket Day events, scheduled for NYC, include poetry readings, spoken word performances and youth poetry slams. For those in the NYC interested, please check out the events listing below, and remember that you’re never too young or old to actively involve yourself in poetry.

NYC 7th Annual Poem in Your Pocket Day (2009):
“Bryant Park Poem In Your Pocket Day Celebration”
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2008
11:00AM – 3:00PM

Where: Bryant Park Reading Room – 6th Ave. @ 42nd St.
By subway: B,D,F,V to 42nd St., 7 to 5th Ave. By bus: M42, M104, to 6th Ave. @ 42nd St.; M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, Q32 to 5th Ave. @ 42nd St.

There will also be free book of poetry handed out at Bryant Park; only one book per person while the supply lasts.  The scheduled events for the day will also include guest performers by NYC student poets, as well as Elizabeth Swados and Bob Holman.

Folk singer and songwriter, Mary Gauthier, admittedly struggled with addiction for years, and in a recent interview with canoe.ca, said thanks to her recovery process, she was able to pursue her real love in life, “Folk Music.” Mary Gauthier was born an orphan in New Orleans, went through adoption homes, and by 15 had spent most of her time between rehab centers, friend’s homes and brief stays in jail, including the night of her 18th birthday.

Still, she some how managed to make it out of the negative environment and move to Boston, where she studied at a cooking school and eventually opened her own successful Cajun restaurant. Unfortunately, her addiction had also followed her and was choking her dream of music over the entire 11 years she was in Boston.

However, Mary Gauthier was able to begin her recovery from her addiction and finally begin to seriously pursue her art. Gauthier said the canoe.ca interview that although some people think drugs aid in the artistic process, for her it was only after she was able to “get my head on straight first” that she was able to shine.

Since, she has recorded several albums including her 1997 debut album, Dixie Kitchen, inspired by those many hard years she left behind. Her latest album, Between Daylight and Dark explores the concept of home and is about being homesick. Mary Gauthier’s accomplishments as a musician have awarded her the praise of critics who compare her to Bob Dylan. Aside from playing music, Gauthier’s style of storytelling through her folk lyrics have led her to the literary venture of publishing short-fiction stories in an anthology called Amplified, which comes out in May.

Hey all, Ernesto here. Recovery Arts is proud to announce our first “Recovery Art” contribution. The submission was sent by Adrien of Arizona, who has less than a year in recovery. Thanks a lot for sharing your Recovery Art, Adrien. Hopefully this piece of art will serve to inspire other people to also express themselves in creative ways and to keep on trucking down the path of recovery. Please find the painting “The Duality of Addiction” below, along with some of Adrien’s sentiments on recovery and the role art can play to help someone in recovery that is seeking an alternative outlet to consuming:

“I’ve been clean for almost a year now. I always wanted to paint, because I’m a creative person, but when I was getting high there was always an excuse and distraction that kept me from the positive things that I wanted to actively pursue. Nonetheless, after I started attending group and staying away from bad influences, I found myself with more free time, so I picked up the brush and started putting my thoughts and feeling on the canvas. To me, “The Duality of Addiction” was one of the paintings that highlighted me trying to part with the dark side of myself that led me to using. The painting served as a way of saying goodbye to my addiction.”

Adrien

Recovery Poetry: A Couple Acrostic Poems on Daily Meditations

Greetings all, Ernesto here. Recovery Arts has been fortunate enough to receive another creative and artful expression from someone who is in recovery. As part of our “Recovery Poetry” section, these two acrostic poems come to us from John and are about today’s meditations and what they mean to him. Acrostic poems are a class of poems that use certain letters and their positions, usually the first letters of every line, when read down, to spell out a bigger message.

I hope that John’s poems and the Recovery Poetry section it can help others on their path. The focus of John’s message on the first poem was “Just for today.” He added, in reference to the second that “everyone should have one and be grateful for them.” Thanks a lot for sharing John.

H–aving
A–nger controlled
P–eople to call
P–laces to go (meetings)
I–nsanity eased
N–ewcomers to greet &
E–mbracing
S–piritual principals &
S–haring SMILES!!!!!!!!!!!!!


S–ober and serene
P–erson
O–ffering
N–ewcomers
S–uggestions
O–n
R–ecovery

I’d like to begin by posting one of my own poems. I titled this one Hallelujah Unsung, and it’s about a couple of friends of mine, one of whom is a recovering addict in jail and another that died of a heroine overdose…

Hallelujah Unsung –

A makeshift Tattoo gun
reveals the  unseen

Like sidewalk forgotten rooftops
from a neighboring balcony

Decisions that slide
to a life time of consequence

the bloody ink mockingbird
harkens from a shoulder

As it swoops and takes the Monarch
by the roadside, it tells a tragedy
of an unaware pedestrian

So much depends on a tiny scratch
on the lens of the Hubble

Or the dollar bill that wins the lotto

There is a train whose coming shakes the field,
and a man in a windowless cell that wipes his tears
as it passes.