The Old Timer

The glow of happiness emanates from his core
It is so surreal, how did he overcome the battle?
The battle of temptation that I am still fighting
I want to know what his success tastes like

He knows what I’m feeling because he has been here
He has gone through the cravings and had the dreams
I want to have experience like he does
I want to be able to help myself by helping others

But I have a long way to go
I have to work hard at life and make amends to those I have harmed
Then I will free myself from the weight of my guilt
The weight that almost drowned me

But it won’t be easy
I have to surrender my will for God’s
I have to ignore the monster begging for consumption day after day
Then I will smell a hint of the sweetness that is a new beginning

When all is said and done
I can start to feel on another level
On his level

-Ari Rabinowitz

Separated

I’m looking at this photograph
And I remember blackouts and hangovers
But also pointless car rides and irrational schemes
Their goofy grins make me smile

Separated over time
I miss these two great friends of mine
Uncertain of when I’ll see them again
My smile slowly drops to a frown

We each took a different path
One followed Judaism
One followed drugs
One followed recovery

I hope the day will come
For us to reunite
And we wont manipulate one another
Or alter our state of mind
We’ll just enjoy the company of each other

-Ari R.

Yehuda Kramer. "Sean &Efy." Photograph. 28 March 2009.