The hum of an air conditioner draws you back,
Back to me,
Away from the swirl of thoughts that hover in the space between.
Spring was pressing into my streets,
The night air restless,
March sighing as she loosened her grip,
Her crown slipping into the shadows.
Forsythia drooped in my parks,
Blooming too soon, too heavy for their time.
You stood on my corner, beneath my street lamp,
As I shifted around you.
The threshold of change was right there,
But you couldn’t see it—
Not yet.
Did you laugh that night?
I can’t be sure.
But I remember the flicker of candlelight from a window,
Your tears caught in the quiet flame.
Did you embrace under my sky?
Perhaps.
I remember how the light softened—peach, violet—
As you walked, seventeen and a half blocks with your eyes wide open.
You tried to savor it, didn’t you?
That quiet moment before everything turned.
I felt it rise in you, that joy—
Not sharp, but deep, like something familiar,
Like something that had always been here.
I sent a bird to perch on a newspaper stand,
Just as your name was called—
A whisper carried through my streets.
You lingered, unwilling to leave me behind,
Unwilling to say goodnight.
SOBER POETRY: This is a space where recovery and creativity meet. It features heartfelt verses that capture the emotions of sobriety. Written by various Sober Curator Contributors and readers about their recovery journeys, these poems provide inspiration, healing, and reflection for readers seeking solace and connection.
Do you have a sober poem you’d love to submit? Please email us at thesobercurator@gmail.com.
THIRSTY FOR WONDER:Anne Marie Cribbenis a passionate recovery coach and spiritual companion based in Washington, DC. As the founder of Thirsty For Wonder, she offers 1:1 coaching, spiritual companionship, and recovery support rooted in compassion and empowerment. Creator of The Wellspring: A Celtic Recovery Journey, Anne Marie blends the Celtic calendar with sobriety, connecting participants to ancient wisdom and nature’s rhythms. A fierce advocate for sobriety as liberation and self-love, Anne Marie challenges the targeted marketing of alcohol to women and promotes authentic, joyful living. Her approach goes beyond addiction recovery, fostering a life of vibrancy and fulfillment.
In her personal life, Anne Marie enjoys baking, cooking, poetry, being a Swiftie, weight lifting, reading, embroidery, and creating mocktails. She treasures time with friends and embraces creativity in all forms.
Sometimes life gets really shitty. Resources are available. Please use them if you need them.
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
If your life or someone else’s is in imminent danger, please call 911. If you are in crisis and need immediate help, please call: 988.
