I met a man with a tale to tell…

By

Charlie G

I show to the world that I'm a man;

But in reality, I have no plan.

Spend my time holding up a mask;

It is not easy, it is a task.

Peel back the lips and show them a grin;

Inside I’m a loser, but they see a win.

Wheeling & dealing was my daily achievement;

Squealing and reeling in self bereavement.

I’d lie, steal or charm to finish the deal,

Anything to keep from having to feel.

That is who I was, until I was prod;

To step off the ledge; let go & let God.

I met a man with a tale to tell;

“I can get you out of this hell.”

“That war raging inside you, that you can’t ever win?

It doesn’t have to be where you’re going – just where you’ve been.”

“Hell, you’d attempt Mt. Everest for one more pill;

But it’s just 12 easy steps up Sobriety Hill.”

12 simple steps, then you’ll soar like a bird;

Confident, assured, apart from the herd.

Flying high overhead, looking down at the past;

Where you spun your wheels in despair, going nowhere real fast.

The price for this? The cost of the bill?

Was the simple giving up of my own self-will.

So I agreed to his terms, I said I’d give it a try;

Because using was misery, It’d long since lost it’s high.

So here’s what I did, 12 steps in all;

After reading the Big Book & getting a sponsor to call:

Starting with step one, that was a breeze;

Step two was tricky, wasn’t “God” just a tease?

Step three was a big one, if I wanted to be free;

Giving up my will; not depending on me.

The next one was honesty, that’s the heart of step four;

What I’d kept hidden for so long; I now opened that door.

In step five I admitted all – to God, man & me;

And the guilt that consumed me – now let me be.

Six is my defects, God take them away;

And in seven, I knelt down and that’s what I pray.

Making a list of my wrongs, this was step eight;

Ready & willing, it’s never too late.

Nine takes time; it should be done face to face;

Making amends when you can, and always with grace.

Ten is done daily, a close look at me;

Cleaning my house is what keeps me free.

But the greatest for me is when I do step eleven;

Drawing closer to God; closer to Heaven.

Step twelve, you’re finished! But you’ve only begun;

When you see another still suffering, you tell them how it’s done.

So, what I want you to remember, what I need you to know;

Is what someone told me a long time ago:

That war raging inside you, that you can’t ever win?

It doesn’t have to be where you’re going – just where you’ve been

Peace

Charlie G