Seekers and Fools: Transitional Poetry, Prose and Parable

By Gary Lee Redmiles

Forty-five years an alcoholic, I was at a crossroads.  I was soon to lose my marriage, lose my career and quite possibly my freedom.  So I made a choice, I enrolled in a 90-day addiction recovery program.

After eight days in detox, I was released into the general population.  Alone in a strange land, something wonderful happ

• Language: English
• Publisher: escapethedin.com
• Release date: Feb 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9781732207882

Book preview

SEEKERS

AND

FOOLS

TRANSITIONAL POETRY, PROSE AND PARABLE

Gary L. Redmiles

Cover Design

and

Cover Photos

Lucinda L. Redmiles

Copyright © 2019 Gary L. Redmiles

All rights reserved.

ISBN—978-1-7322078-9-9

ISBN—978-1-7322078-8-2 (e-book)

Publisher: Gary L. Redmiles

This is not a public domain book and I hold the necessary publishing rights. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

For any inquiries regarding this book or other original material available, please visit:

www.escapethedin.com

I dedicate this collection to

my lovely wife,

Cyndy

and to the fine folks

at ELEVATE Addiction Services

(clients, counselors and staff)

And, of course, Meeshu.

Author’s Notes

A year before this collection of poetry was first printed, I had hit rock bottom. It was only when the very real possibility of losing my wife, my freedom and even my life, that I discovered sobriety was the only way to find my way back home. The majority of these works were written while I was in an inpatient recovery program. After my body and brain dried out and my senses reawakened, I found that writing about the process as I was living it helped me keep the new experiences, observations and the emotional changes taking place within me at the forefront of my mind. The journaling I did, required as part of my recovery program, quickly turned to a gnawing hunger to learn about writing different forms of poetry. You just never know what each day will bring, as prior to this, the last time I wrote anything of substance was in my high school English class. This book offers dire cautionary tales as well as tales of times that one might find some humor, which is there if you look between the cracks, in the world of recovery.

During the 111 days spent in a cognitive behavioral therapy addiction rehabilitation/recovery program (that’s a mouthful), I discovered that it is our reactions to what we think and feel that has so much to do with our contentment and when we change our reactions, we change our world. Although my own addiction is to alcohol, the poetry, prose and parables here also speak of the issue of drug addiction in its many forms. Many thanks to those people in recovery that shared their war stories with me and trusted me with their confidences.

If you are finding yourself face-to-face with your own rock bottom reality, it is my hope that you can find what works for you to have a successful recovery and a life pursuing happiness which we all know can’t be found in a drink or a drug, at least not real, lasting happiness. The poetry, prose and parable in this book will walk that road with you. From denial to reluctant acceptance to understanding, the words herein are wrung from whole cloth of someone that has experienced the damage that alcohol can do and the rewards of remaining sober. Surrender to the program and don’t give up. May YOU find these words help you to make the decision to seek out a change, or stick with your recovery. YOU can recover. YOU can find your way back home. YOU can do amazing things!

To PARENT(S), FAMILY and FRIENDS of those who are facing an intervention or lengthy recovery process, it is my hope that you’ll be able to understand what your loved one is going through.

To RECOVERY PROGRAM STAFF, COUNSELORS, SPECIALSTS and LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, I am hoping you will find empathy for and a deeper understanding of the individuals you are dedicated to help.

Gary L. Redmiles

There is thunder in a thought

Silence is a shield

There is no understanding

When we both refuse to yield

Poetic Contents

PUT IT BEHIND

REAL CHANGE

OH,MOTHER OH,FATHER

I DO THE WORK

A PANTOUM OF PAIN

WHAT IS FREEDOM?

I GREW UP

THE QUARREL WITHIN

OPEN YOUR HEART (version 1)

ORIENTATION BLUES

ANDY WARHOL IN A CONVENT

SIX QUESTIONS

ADDISON AND RECTORY

THE SEEKER AND THE FOOL

AN OPEN LETTER TO RECOVERY NEWBIES

ADDICTED/COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN

ODE TO ELEANOR

DAY BY DAY

A WALK IN THE WOODS

COURT ORDERED BLUES*

THE PARABLE OF MEESHU

OPEN YOUR HEART (version 2)

WATER IT DOWN

MEPHISTO’S OATH

THE ONE WHO SAW ELEPHANTS

WHEN I KISS HER NECK

HANGOVER (Pindaric Ode)

NOTHING IS FORGIVEN

√16 QUATRAIN 4X4

ODE TO A CARE PACKAGE

EXCUSES, EXCUSES

SH*TTY SHOES

KNOWHERE TRAIN

THE SAGA OF WINSTON

RONDEAU OF REASON

MARDI GRAS MASK

CRUCIBLE

WONDER IN THE STARS

VISCIOUS VISION

OH, JUDGE

SPECIAL DELIVERY

TELL ME

TAINTED PONY

THE BLAME GAME

A DRUNKARD’S DREAM

SORRY RANT

AN EVENING AT THE DERILICT

HOW DO I LOSE YOU?

NEVER BEFORE

CALL ME REAL

DREAMING DARK EYES

IMAGINARY LIONS

REAL LIFE

I CAN STILL WATCH ARTHUR

WHAT CAN I OFFER IN RETURN?

FALLOUT

80 DAYS AND 80 NIGHTS

TIME TO COME HOME

BACK TO THE WORLD

THE HARDEST THING

WHAT IF I WENT AND DID IT?

I HATE THE GRAND CANYON

CARDBOARD CUTOUTS

CHRISTMAS IN REHAB

RELAPSE BLUES

I’M STILL HERE

RECKLESS JOURNEY

A GREAT ESCAPE

CTRL+ALT+DEL

ONE YEAR

All original poetry written by Gary L. Redmiles

Except * written by Lucinda L. Redmiles

PUT IT BEHIND

Here are the learned scholars

Well intentioned all

There are 98.6 degrees

In frames upon their wall