I Can
By CM
Sobriety has helped me think clean
Being sober was one of my biggest fears
Crazy but true
Because I would have to deal with the harsh reality of
certain things I didn’t want to see or hear
Time being wasted doing the same thing
year after year
I’m finally on a road to redemption
I chose it not afraid to poise with it,
I can really smile when I look in the mirror
And say I conquered one of my biggest fears
I’m proud to say sobriety helped me see clear
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The poets featured here are currently incarcerated, and many of them are in federal prisons far from home. Your feedback is a valuable source of motivation and connection to the outside community. Post your comments, feedback, and encouragement in the space below the poem. Messages will be passed on directly to the author. Comments may not appear immediately on the site, as our team processes them to mail to the poets.
I liked how real this poem is. I think a lot of people have the same fear of getting clean. It is a big accomplishment to say you got clean and beat addiction and substance use. This poem is very relatable as well. Some of my favorite parts of this poem include the first and last lines. They go together even though they are not the same and I think it brings the whole poem together because of it.
I am so proud of you! Everyday is a battle but even the little baby steps of sobriety is something to be extremely proud of. I’m so glad you were able to accomplish one of your biggest fears. Thank you for sharing such raw situation in your life. So many can relate to this and your accomplishments can possible help another in a similar situation! Keep writing the progress down!
Hello CM,
Congratulations on your sobriety! I really appreciate your story that you share here and I’m glad you’re able to truly smile to yourself in the mirror. Sobriety is a hard accomplishment to come by when one is so reliant on their substance, but you truly were able to accomplish one of the hardest goals in life. Wishing you all the best, and I hope to read more poems from you in the future.
Hello CM, This poem is very inspiring. I want to congratulate you on your sobriety. You’re doing something amazing. I’m proud of your strength and courage! You’re taking back your life one day at a time, and you should be proud of what you’ve achieved. Good luck on this next leg of your journey into clean living. Keep up the good work!
Hi CM,
Your poem does a really good job of conveying all the struggles that addiction brings. I liked that you said “certain things I didn’t want to see or hear
Time being wasted doing the same thing
year after year
I’m finally on a road to redemption” ; because it is important to discuss the feeling of lost time that addiction can bring. It can be difficult to come to terms with all of the events and opportunities you feel you’ve missed out on due to addiction. With this, I have seen from those close to me that one of the most beneficial things you can do in these times is use that as motivation for your future. As a relative of someone who has struggled with addiction for the entirety of my life, I recognise how difficult it is to get out of that mindset of addiction wasting time and being the only option. There is great strength in pushing yourself to come out of this place and I wish you the best.
I love this piece! People don’t talk about how great of an accomplishment becoming sober is, so I really appreciate you bringing it to light. When people think of diseases like cancer or lung disease, they just feel bad for the person struggling with it. However, when it comes to addiction, which is also very much a disease, the conversation changes drastically. Although I don’t know you, I am proud of you. Thank you for sharing your story in this little writing piece of yours. This is by far my favorite poem I have read on this site.
CM,
Thank you for your vulnerability in this poem! I am so proud of you for the road you have walked. Facing fears and overcoming challenges are difficult, but you have done so well. Keep seeing clearly!
Hey CM!
I really love that you are on the road to recovery! I am currently a little over 2 years sober/clean and I am just in a completely different place in my life now. I think clearer, I no longer suffer and I don’t have to run from anyone or anything anymore. If I could give any advice it would be to keep writing and talking about how you feel, and no matter what just keep moving forward!!
Sincerely, CD
Wow, just wow. I got chills from this poem and I can’t even put into words how this poem makes me feel. As someone who comes from a family where multiple people struggle with addiction, these words that you wrote really hit home to me. I know that every day is a battle when it comes to staying sober, I have seen it in the people I love the most. Just know that there is someone out there that is proud of you and someone who appreciates how hard you are working to maintain something that most people don’t even think twice about. You are a warrior, never forget that.
I really enjoyed this poem! I like the literary techniques that you used.
Thank you for sharing your poem. I really enjoyed your poem because I think it’s really hard to overcome substance abuse and finding a healthy way to face your problems. It takes a lot for a person to do that and you should be proud of yourself for overcoming it.
Hi CM<
Thank you for being open and honest about your experience with us. "I can really smile when I look in the mirror / And say I conquered one of my biggest fears," one of my favorite lines, because I can relate to the sense of accomplishment and self-love that comes with overcoming a personal challenge.
Another thing I like is how you emphasize the importance of facing reality, even when it's difficult. The line "Because I would have to deal with the harsh reality of / certain things I didn't want to see or hear" is a good reminder that in order to grow as individuals, we must sometimes confront our fears and problems head-on. Thank you for reminding us.
Hi there! Achieving sobriety is such a feat, and you should be so proud of yourself. While I’ve never had to beat an addiction, I can relate to the fear of having to let something that has been so prominent in your life, go. Sometimes we don’t want to have to deal with the truth of certain matters, because we don’t want to feel the hurt or the pain that might follow, but truly, letting go can lead to an amazing amount of growth. When it comes to any amount of growth, or any addiction, every day is a battle. You have to remember the reasons as to why you are fighting to do so in the first place, and that motivation will be the thing that keeps you going. Not many people in this world are aware of their own strength, but it is clear that you have found yours. I wish all the best for you. Congratulations on your sobriety!
Congratulations on your sobriety. I really appreciate how open you are in your poem. The unknown is scary and It is hard to face reality at sometimes. But it takes a lot of courage to face your fears. Hope you are doing well.
This poem truly blew me away. A road to recovery is a powerful thing, and this poem was really vulnerable. Thank you for sharing!
CM,
I’m so glad that you have experienced that there is nothing to fear within sobriety and that you can see clearer now. I am in recovery myself, it’s so good to be here with you. Stay strong.
I really enjoyed reading this piece. Everyone has to deal with things going on in their own life, and every step, even the small steps are important to acknowledge and should be praised. Thank you for sharing your vulnerability and your story
I like the content of the poem was so personal. Congrats on the accomplshment it takes a lot of courage. I think you should explore writing more as a creative outlet.
CM, this is such a motivational poem, from start to finish, I love how you show your emotions and feelings throughout as it is very tough for some people even to tell their stories to friends nevermind post them to people you don’t know, all I can say is that you are a brave soul, I am hoping you are doing much better and get your redemption over your past times, don’t stop moving forward
To CM- Sobriety is not always an easy topic to talk about, never mind make a poem about but you did just that. So many people use drugs and alcohol as an outlet to forget what’s happening in their reality. Once people use these substances to get away, however, it doesn’t actually go away. Drugs and alcohol make even bigger problems however people get so hooked on the false hope it provides and the escape it gives to people. Sobriety is not an easy thing to do, but it can really help your life go in a positive direction. I’m glad you’re on “the road to redemption,” even though you were so afraid of doing so. I hope sobriety will continue to help you see clearly and feel better about yourself. This is not an easy thing but you’re doing it! Thank you for sharing.
Hello CM,
The vulnerability that is within this poem is beautiful and speaks volumes. The words used all have an impact and were chosen well. My favorite line, and the one I think was done best, was
“And say I conquered one of my biggest fears
I’m proud to say sobriety helped me see clear”, I enjoyed the depth and the play on words.
This is such a powerful poem. I think this is something so many people can relate to and that so many people would be moved and motivated by. It makes me so happy to see those on the road to recovery seeing and feeling the results of their sobriety and hard work. The lines, “Because I would have to deal with the harsh reality of certain things I didn’t want to see or hear” is really powerful and emotional and something that will stick with me moving forward.
“I Can” by CM is a powerful and inspiring poem that celebrates the journey of sobriety and the strength it takes to overcome addiction. The poem reflects on the speaker’s initial fear of sobriety and the realization that it meant confronting harsh realities and facing difficult emotions. The repetition of “year after year” emphasizes the monotony of addiction and the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of self-destructive behavior. However, the speaker also acknowledges their choice to pursue redemption and the pride they feel in overcoming their fears. The final line, “I’m proud to say sobriety helped me see clear,” is a powerful affirmation of the positive impact that sobriety has had on their life. Overall, “I Can” is a moving and uplifting poem that speaks to the power of resilience and the transformative nature of personal growth.
hi,
I love how open you are about your addiction and how hard it was for you to get sober. things seem impossible to overcome sometimes but as soon as you do it, its actually easy. Facing reality is really hard even for me , im glad you mentioned that.
Hi CM, I first want to say congratulations on your sobriety, as I know people who have also struggled with getting clean, and I know that it in no way is an easy task. It takes an incredible amount of resilience and persistence. I admire that you were able to overcome such an obstacle, and you should be extremely proud of yourself!
Hi CM,
I truly loved reading your poem and and want to thank you for being so vulnerable. It’s inspiring to read how you continue to fight and are so honest about your fear. This is an aspect of sobriety that I haven’t really heard enough about, so reading your poem was incredibly informative of your experience. I wish you luck on your journey and you should be so proud of how far you’ve come. Thank you so much for sharing this piece!
I’m so glad you were able to get sober. Addiction is a very real thing and a very hard habit to break, I am proud of how far you’ve come. I hope you are able to remain sober and continue to better yourself. I wish you all the best.
Hi!
Congratulations on your sobriety! You are very strong! I appreciated your vulnerability in this poem, and I encourage you to keep your head high. It might be easy to resort to alcohol to forget the hard things, but your effort to be sober show your resilience! I applaud your fortitude, and keep writing beautiful poems like these!
Great poem CM. I really admire your strength in maintaining your sobriety. Admitting you have a problem is the first step to change. I can see your dedication to stay sober is strong. Great job learning how to conquer your biggest fears and getting a clear and clean mind. Thanks for sharing
I really enjoyed reading this poem I like how it comes from the heart and the mind and it’s a very powerful think to give yourself a pat on the back because it really hard to understand and fight our fears.
I really like how real this poem is. I really enjoyed reading your poem. It’s a very inspiring poem and I thank you for being so vulnerable.
I loved reading this poem and was really inspired by it. It made me think about how sometime in the future I hope to face my own fears just like you. This was an amazing poem. Thanks for sharing!
One of my favorite things about this poem is how real and truthful it is. It embodies the concept of change and I think that is a beautiful thing to accomplish. My favorite line is “I can really smile when I look into the mirror” because it makes me feel what the author is feeling, a sense of freedom. This is a meaningful, well written poem. Great Piece!
CM, congratulations on your sobriety. My father died young after a life of addiction. I have purposely chosen to remain sober because I was afraid of becoming addicted. These are my favorite lines in your poem:
“I’m finally on a road to redemption
I chose it not afraid to poise with it,
I can really smile when I look in the mirror”
I like how the first lines and the last lines match. It really grabbed my attention. This poem genuinely blew me away. I’m happy that you have found a road to recovery. And I like how you used writing to express your progress.
I love this poem! Very inspirational and you painted such a clear picture of where you were (and why) versus where you are now. Loved the play on words too saying you can think “clean” when talking about sobriety, as opposed to just being “clean”. So happy for you on your progress. Keep writing!
I really like this poem. As someone who is going through trying to quit, it is nice to know that I am not alone in being scared. Knowing you faced your fear of hearing the hard truth is beautiful.
I really love that you are on the road to recovery, I am really proud of you! The opening of this poem really grabbed my attention. Congrats on your sobriety, it is a beautiful thing. This can be really inspiring to people that struggle with their sobriety. Keep going!
YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO!!!! Never give up and keep chugging forward! I am very happy that you have found your path to recovery! This isn’t the first poem I read from you and you continue to impress me! Great job!
This work really covers the true character arch of an alcoholic and their path to sobriety. It hit really deep when they said they didn’t want to be sober because then they’d have to deal with the harsh reality of life. This seems like something everyone can relate to whether they use substances or not. There’s always a reason why people start using substances in the first place and it’s usually to forget about the reality of things around them.
I’m very happy that you are in recovery from your addiction. This poem is very raw and honest, which adds to its quality. I like how you use connecting words like sober and clean to describe your feelings about your recovery. Your pride and the fresh start you have found really show through this poem and makes it very impactful.
This is such a powerful message that many people can relate to, such as the fear that can come with facing the reality of being sober. It shows vulnerability and honesty in acknowledging the difficulty of this journey. Congratulations on sobriety, you prove that when facing your fears it can be a difficult journey but it can have rewarding outcomes if you confront and face your challenges head-on.
This poem explores personal growth and the challenges of facing difficult truths. The contrast between the initial fear of sobriety and the pride and clarity now felt is powerful, and the use of internal rhyme and repetition adds momentum to the piece.
CM,
Great job on your poem and congratulations on your sobriety, I am sure the path to get there was not easy. I really appreciated the vulnerability with your poem, and vulnerability often leads to great art like you have shown here. Thank you for sharing and I hope you will continue to celebrate your strength. I hope you will also continue to write poetry, you really have a talent.
Congratulations on finding your path to sobriety and fighting your fears. The “road to redemption” isn’t easy and it’s one that you found and earned through hard work. Thank you for inspiring me to face my fears!
Hey CM,
I’m so proud of you for facing your fears and choosing sobriety. Your strength and courage are inspiring, and it’s amazing how they have helped you see life more clearly. I really liked how the poem embodies change as something good and achievable. Keep up the great work, CM; you can conquer anything you set your mind to!
Your poem beautifully captures the struggles and wins of overcoming addiction and embracing sobriety. It conveys a sense of courage, self-awareness, and resilience in facing the harsh reality of certain things and choosing a path of redemption. The repetition of the phrase “one of my biggest fears” and the triumphant ending convey a strong message of personal growth and self-pride. Keep going.
CM,
I am so happy to hear of your sobriety, I really feel like that is such a brave and strong thing to achieve and even go the step further to write about it. I really love the emotion I can feel through the words of your poem as if you are standing in front of me speaking it. Your diction and imagery is great and I think you have a real gift for writing. Great poem, I really hope you continue to write through your journey!
Hello CM,
I really love your poem. Sobriety is difficult to go through and I’m glad you were able to conquer your fear. “I Can” is such a strong poem because of the feelings in each stanza. It brings clarity and joy because going through something can make it scary to look at yourself and feel okay. The idea of being content with who you are and how far you’ve come can be life-changing. Congratulations on your sobriety! and my favorite lines would be the final two stanzas because of how smoothly they flowed together!
Reading this poem is both raw and inspiring, I can feel the radiant hope coming from this poem. As someone who has struggled with similar issues, this poem gives me happiness, that something good can come from being clean. Facing the world and its issues is hard, and being able to overcome that and find hope is so inspirational. The wording and rhythm of your poem is so well done, as well as the delivery of it. it was such a good read, I hope your writing continues. Thank you CM!
This poem really stood out to me. My father had an addiction problem and has been sober for a couple of years now. It really affected our family, but now we have a much better relationship. Reading about this topic from the other side of the story was pretty eye opening. I really like that the second line of the poem and the second to last line both talk about sobriety being your biggest fear. It makes them feel like the beginning and ending of the journey, which makes the parts between the two lines feel like we are on this journey with you as we read. I’m certain sobriety is a tough road to walk on, but I’m wishing you all the best! Thank you for sharing your work with others.
Within this poem you show personal growth, first starting with the understanding of why sobriety is feared and ending with a statement showing strengths found within yourself. Despite causing temporary relief, true relief is found within freeing oneself by seeking sobriety and allowing yourself to be proud of it. This is such a wonderful poem, thank you for opening your heart and sharing this poem!
I definitely enjoyed this poem. I liked how you knew even though sobriety was a big step into facing reality, you still took that step. There is something so much more rewarding on the other side of fear and I’m glad you’re starting to experience it. Keep up the great work.
CM,
This poem is a beautiful sentiment to what you have been through and the journey of sobriety. I commend you for your authenticity in sharing this with the world not only going through this but then turning around and writing about is a different type of freedom and healing. Your words have so much power, thank you for sharing them.
Hi CM,
I just want to say that you are really brave and it takes so much strength to change for the better! Addiction is a REAL thing and it should always be taken seriously. “Because I would have to deal with the harsh reality of
certain things I didn’t want to see or hear” I like this line because as humans we don’t see our wrong-doings or our reality and I am guilty of this as well. Thank you for sharing and showing your TRUTH!
CM – I agree with much of the sentiment shared by the other commenters. Congratulations on your huge steps in your sobriety journey. I really enjoyed reading this poem and hope you continue to feel proud of the big steps you are making in your journey. I wish you the absolute best.
I really enjoyed the is simplicity of this poem, so simple but still so meaningful. Its honest and real and relatable. I know that is a very big fear when making the choice to get sober, having to deal with everything you’ve been avoiding. The only thing missing from this poem is more of it, I want to read more about your journey! Great job and congratulations on taking the step to get sober.