Poem: A Bad Dream

If you think
You are alone
In your
Addiction
You are
mistaken...

Others suffer
With you
and
Because
of
Your pain...

When you
Are lost
To
Yourself,
Clouded
and
Trapped
By Pain,
Those
who
Love you
Can't
reach
You...

It is so
Sad
Seeing you
Suffer so...

Watching you
Feel ashamed
Of yourself.

There is
No
Shame in
Becoming
Addicted.

In this
World,
Everyone
You see
Is addicted!

You are
Not
Alone!

Your addiction
Began
Innocently!

You were
Seeking
A way
Out of
Pain.

You did
Not
Know
How seeking
To escape
Would trap you
And how
The habit of
Escaping
Would come
to control
You...

You can
Be innocent
Again.
But
First you
Must
Withdraw.
And see
What a
Paper
Phantom
Shame is!

How shame
Is the trap!

Do not be
Afraid!

You are
Strong!

You can
Beat
This Demon
and
Free
Yourself!

You can
Withdraw!

You have
The
Strength
To do this
and see
this through!

You are loved!

No matter
How many
Times
You fall...

Stand
Again!

You have
Never
Been alone.

You have
Never
Been unloved!

That is all
Just
A bad
Bad
Dream!


--Pahka Dave (2013)