Our Favorite Addiction Recovery Poems

Welcome to what I hope will be SOBRLIFE’s evolving blog and forum on addiction recovery poems. As an amateur poet who has walked the road of recovery myself, I’m honored and excited to start off this piece and even put a few verses of my own into the mix. 

In battling the silent killer of alcohol and drugs, poetry has been a powerful tool in my healing process, offering solace, inspiration, and a means to express the complex emotions that come with addiction and recovery.

There are so many things that are hard to say out loud, but that can be captured perfectly with the right words and verses to join them. I hope you find something that speaks to you here, and remember to send in your thoughts, poems, and stories to us at SOBRLIFE any time!

The Purpose and Place of Poems About Addiction and Sobriety

I will be the first to acknowledge that recovery poetry spans a wide spectrum and isn’t easily defined; from raw confessionals to uplifting odes of hope. What these poems usually share are reflections on our resilience, the struggles and darkness of active addiction, and the triumph of reclaiming one’s life in ways that would have seemed improbable (at best) during the ‘bad old days.’ 

Let’s explore some notable works in this genre and reflect on their impact on the mind (and, I would say, on spirituality and the soul).

Mary Oliver

One of the most renowned poets to tackle the subject of addiction is Mary Oliver. In her poem “The Uses of Sorrow,” she writes:

“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness.

It took me years to understand that this, too, was a gift.”

While not explicitly about addiction, this poem resonates deeply with many in recovery. It speaks to the transformative power of pain and the unexpected gifts that can arise from our darkest moments. In recovery, we often find that our struggles have given us strength, empathy, and wisdom we might not have gained otherwise.

We finally meet our authentic selves when we break the thrall of dependence on substances and embrace our truth. 

Franz Wright

Moving to a more direct confrontation of addiction, we have “Alcohol” by Franz Wright:

“You do look a little ill. But we can do something about that, now. Can’t we. The fact is you’re a shocking wreck.

Do you hear me. You aren’t all alone.

And you could use some help today, packing in the dark, boarding buses north, putting the seat back and grinning with terror flowing over your legs through your fingers and hair…”

Wright’s poem captures the chaos and desperation of active addiction with vivid, unsettling imagery. It’s a stark reminder of where we’ve been and why we choose recovery every day.

Ellen Bass

In contrast, poems celebrating recovery often focus on themes of rebirth and rediscovery. Take “The Thing Is” by Ellen Bass:

“to love life, to love it even when you have no stomach for it and everything you’ve held dear crumbles like burnt paper in your hands, your throat filled with the silt of it.

When grief sits with you, its tropical heat thickening the air, heavy as water more fit for gills than lungs; when grief weights you down like your own flesh only more of it, an obesity of grief, you think,

How can a body withstand this? Then you hold life like a face between your palms, a plain face, no charming smile, no violet eyes, and you say, yes, I will take you I will love you, again.”

Bass’s poem speaks to the courage required to embrace life anew in recovery, even when it feels overwhelming. It’s a powerful testament to the daily choice we make to live fully and love deeply, despite our past struggles.

Wrestling with whatever particular devil may be talking to me on any given day through words and verse is both a way to find peace and make sense of the world. It allows me to process emotions, celebrate milestones, and connect with others (at least when I push past the fear and dare to share my work!) 

My Own Verse

Here’s a short piece I wrote reflecting on my own path:

“Broken Vessels”

Once shattered, now mended. Beauty

crowning what were jagged edges.

Each gilded fissure fixed: a story 

I shuddered to tell before. 

I am. Imperfect, but stronger 

For all that I’ve been beaten down by

All this

To find out being broken is a blessing.

To shine in the spaces

Between past faults

and the fullness of the present.

This poem draws inspiration from the Japanese art of kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold, making it more beautiful than before. It’s a metaphor I return to in my reflections and so wanted to write more fully about.

At the best of times, poetry in recovery isn’t just about personal expression; it’s also a powerful tool for building community and fostering understanding. For these reasons, more and more treatment centers and recovery groups incorporate poetry workshops or readings into their programs these days.

Amanda Gorman

One poem that’s often shared in these settings is “The Miracle of Morning” by Amanda Gorman:

“We ignite not in the light, but in lack thereof, 

For it is in loss that we truly learn to love. In this chaos, we will discover clarity. 

In suffering, we must find solidarity. 

For it’s our grief that gives us our gratitude, 

Shows us how to find hope, if we ever lose it. 

So ensure that this ache wasn’t endured in vain: 

Do not ignore the pain. Give it purpose. Use it.”

While not specifically about addiction, Gorman’s words resonate deeply with many of us in the recovery community, myself included. They speak to the transformative power of adversity and the importance of finding meaning.

Anonymous

For those new to recovery as well, poems can offer comfort and hope during difficult times, times that may seem like they won’t ever get better.

“One Day at a Time” by Anonymous is a simple yet powerful mantra often recited in recovery circles I have been a part of:

“One day at a time– This is enough. 

Do not look back 

And grieve over the past, 

For it is gone; 

And do not be troubled about the future, 

For it has not yet come. 

Live in the present, draw breath

Know in this moment, and every moment:

You matter.

And make it so beautiful 

That it will be worth remembering.”

This stark poem encapsulates a fundamental principle of recovery: focusing on the present moment rather than dwelling on past regrets or future anxieties.

Another Little Piece of My Heart

As we wrap up this exploration of addiction recovery poems, I’d like to share one final piece. This is a new poem I’ve written specifically for this blog, inspired by the SOBRLIFE community and the path we are privileged to share:

“Sober Creation”

In the gallery of days, 

Each frame is a choice renewed, 

In sobriety to paint with wild strokes 

A life once thought lost. Our own.

Now it is of the essence

To sketch our boundaries firmly, 

Shade in self-care, too long forgotten. 

Highlight the joys of presence, 

Embrace even despair.

In the fullness of finding a new path.

So lift your brush or pen with purpose, 

Let gratitude shine through, 

and guide the light within you.

To those still struggling, know that your story isn’t over. There’s a poem waiting to be written about your triumph, your resilience, your recovery. 

And to those already on this path, continue to share your verses. Your words may be the lifeline someone else needs to hear to be free.

Join the SOBRLIFE Community and Recover Out Loud

Thank you for joining me for this poetic interlude. May you find inspiration in the words shared, and may your own story of recovery become a poem (or many poems) that share hope with others. 

Remember, in the words of Leonard Cohen, “There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”

So keep writing, keep recovering, and keep shining your light. Your story matters, and SOBRLIFE is here to support you every step of the way!