16 Best Short Poems about Addiction

Navigating the complex emotions surrounding addiction can be challenging. Poetry offers a window into these depths, conveying both pain and hope. Dive into 16 evocative short poems that shed light on the intricate dance between despair and recovery in the world of addiction.

Short Poems about Addiction

1. Chains of Craving

In this poem, the writer delves into the binding nature of addiction, illustrating how it tightens its grip, transforming individuals into prisoners of their own desires.

Chains of craving, tight and strong,

Whispered lies of right and wrong,

In its grip, I feel so small,

Addiction’s puppet, after all.

 

Every morning, I promise to break free,

By nightfall, it’s stronger than me,

The cycle’s endless, again I fall,

In this echoing, darkened hall.

 

Dreams of sunlight, hopes of day,

Yet in shadows, I always stay,

This binding cycle, my heart does grieve,

Yearning someday, I might leave.

2. The Deceptive Mirage

This poem touches on the illusory nature of addiction, suggesting that what appears as a sanctuary might only be a mirage, leading one further away from reality and self-awareness.

A sip, a puff, a fleeting high,

A mirage in the desert, under the sky,

It promises solace, an escape so sweet,

Yet leaves me broken, in utter defeat.

 

Chasing oasis, in a desert vast,

Grains of time, slipping fast,

What feels like comfort, is just a ruse,

A deceptive game, where I always lose.

 

But hope still flickers, a distant light,

Guiding me out, from endless night,

The journey’s long, the road is hard,

Yet, I’ll find my way, step by step, yard by yard.

3. Shadows of Yesterday

The poem sheds light on the lingering effects of addiction, emphasizing the weight of past actions and the constant challenge of moving beyond them.

Once, I danced with reckless glee,

Now, shadows of yesterday chase me,

Every corner, every turn,

Reminding me of bridges I did burn.

 

In the mirror, a face so worn,

By battles fought, by storms long gone,

Yet, every scar, every line,

Tells of a time, when the world was mine.

 

The past may haunt, may tear and fray,

But with dawn, comes a brand new day,

Seeking forgiveness, from self and kin,

For a brighter tomorrow, I’ll begin.

4. Whispers of Hope

The final poem explores the potential for recovery and renewal. No matter how deep the descent, there is always a beacon of hope calling one back to the light.

In the quiet night, a whisper grows,

Softly telling of a path few knows,

Beyond the grip, beyond despair,

Lies a world, fresh and fair.

 

Temptation strong, yet hope stronger still,

A guiding force, a test of will,

Every stumble, every fall,

Hope’s gentle voice, beckons and calls.

 

Embracing tomorrow, leaving pain behind,

Seeking the strength, I know I’ll find,

With love and time, wounds will cope,

Forever guided by whispers of hope.

Short Poems about Addiction

Poems about Drugs Addiction and Love

1. Tangled Hearts

In this poem, the intertwining forces of love and drug addiction are explored. Love attempts to be the healing touch, but the pull of addiction makes the relationship a tumultuous one.

You promised a love, pure and true,

Yet drugs clouded skies that were blue,

In your embrace, I felt so close,

But your other love, it did impose.

 

Our moments, both bitter and sweet,

Love’s warmth overshadowed by deceit,

Yet, every time you’d go astray,

In love’s realm, I chose to stay.

 

Hoping one day, you’d break the chain,

Where love would heal, erasing pain,

For in the dance of love and strife,

I dream of a harmonious life.

2. Dual Desires

This poem illustrates the internal conflict of someone ensnared by drugs, who also deeply loves another. The juxtaposition of these two powerful emotions creates a tense and tumultuous journey.

In your eyes, I found my place,

Yet, another lure I often chase,

A pill, a puff, a forbidden delight,

Plunges our love into endless night.

 

Love shouts, drugs whisper low,

In this tug of war, where do I go?

You offer peace, a comforting song,

Yet, addiction’s pull is fierce and strong.

 

Between love’s embrace and drug’s caress,

My heart is torn, in duress,

May love’s light, one day shine above,

Guiding me back, with gentle shove.

3. Fading Echo

This poem delves into the heartbreak of watching a loved one succumb to drug addiction. The love remains, but the person once known seems to fade away, becoming a distant echo.

Once, your laughter filled the room,

Now, it’s muffled, shrouded in gloom,

Love remains, but it’s hard to trace,

The soul lost to a chemical embrace.

 

Every memory, every shared dream,

Now drowns in a narcotic stream,

Yet, deep down, I still believe,

In the love story, we once weaved.

 

For even as you fade, becoming an echo,

My love remains, refusing to let go,

Hoping against hope, in love’s grand scheme,

You’ll return from the abyss, to relive the dream.

Poems about Drugs Addiction and Love

Poems about Addiction and Relationship

1. The Silent Battle

This poem touches upon the unspoken struggles within a relationship marred by addiction. The addiction not only affects the individual but also casts shadows on the bond shared with a loved one.

In our home, where love should thrive,

Silent battles daily arrive,

Your addiction, like a wall so high,

Separates our hearts, making them sigh.

 

Whispers of concern, cries of despair,

Yet you seem lost, unaware,

Every plea, every tear I shed,

Echoes in the chasm where love once tread.

 

Holding onto memories, to love once bright,

Wishing for days, devoid of the night,

In this relationship, a dance of two,

I await the day you break through.

2. Fractured Trust

The poem captures the essence of trust in relationships and how addiction can fracture this foundation. Trust once broken, leaves behind a trail of doubts and uncertainties.

Your words, once a soothing balm,

Now sound alarms, cause harm,

Addiction’s deceit, like a rift,

Fractures trust, sets it adrift.

 

Promises made, then swiftly broken,

In the silence, so much is spoken,

Every relapse, every lie,

Makes a part of our love die.

 

Yet, hope persists, fragile and thin,

That one day, trust might begin,

To mend, to heal, to grow anew,

In a love story, retold by two.

3. Torn Between

This poem speaks from the perspective of the one battling addiction. Torn between love for a partner and the clutches of addiction, the internal conflict is both raw and real.

In your eyes, I see the pain,

Yet the addiction, I can’t restrain,

Torn between, a love so pure,

And a vice, with no known cure.

 

I wish to be the one you recall,

Not this shadow, about to fall,

In this struggle, so profound,

Love’s voice, the only sound.

 

Praying for strength, to rise above,

To be worthy of your unwavering love,

In this battle, of heart and mind,

Seeking a future, where love’s not confined.

Poems about Addiction and Relationship

Poems about Addiction and Death

1. The Final Embrace

This poem conveys the tragic end that addiction can lead to, personifying death as an inevitable companion waiting patiently for those lost in the throes of addiction.

In the shadows, death does wait,

For souls lost, in addiction’s gate,

A silent observer, cold and stark,

As life’s flame dwindles, losing its spark.

 

Moments of joy, dreams that shone,

All fade away, as addiction has grown,

With every dose, with every high,

Death inches closer, with a sigh.

 

A warning, a plea, to those who tread,

This perilous path, where many have bled,

Break free, before it’s too late,

Or face death’s final, unyielding fate.

2. Eclipsed Light

The poem delves into how addiction, like an eclipse, gradually overshadows life until it reaches a point of no return, leading towards the inevitable darkness of death.

Life once bright, like the midday sun,

Now eclipsed, by addiction spun,

Darkness grows, shadows play,

As the light of life fades away.

 

Promises of euphoria, temporary delight,

Blind the eyes, steal the light,

With every plunge, every breath,

Comes a step closer to death.

 

Yet, even in the darkest night,

Flickers a hope, however slight,

May one turn, see the day,

Before the light is fully eclipsed away.

3. Whispers of the End

This poem highlights the seductive yet deadly allure of addiction. The constant dance with danger, where every instance feels like flirting with the inevitable – death.

Addiction’s lure, so sweet, so deep,

Promises dreams, yet steals sleep,

With every rush, with every bend,

Whispers arise of the impending end.

 

Dancing on the edge, a perilous game,

Flirting with death, again and again,

The abyss calls, the fall is near,

Yet the addiction’s voice is all one can hear.

 

For those ensnared, caught in the net,

May love’s call be the one they get,

To pull back, to mend, to fend,

Against addiction’s whispers of the end.

Poems about Addiction and Death

Poems about Addiction and Family

1. Ties That Strain

This poem captures the strain addiction places on family bonds. The emotional tug-of-war where love constantly battles with the anguish and disappointments addiction brings.

In the heart of our home, a storm does brew,

Addiction’s shadow, darkening the hue,

Promises made, then torn apart,

A family in pain, breaking each heart.

 

Children’s laughter, once freely spent,

Now echoes of worry, of discontent,

Hopes and dreams, begin to wane,

As addiction’s grip, tightens its chain.

 

Yet, love remains, resilient and true,

Family ties, striving to renew,

Praying for the day, the clouds part,

Mending the rift, healing the heart.

2. Unseen Scars

The poem reflects on the unseen emotional scars inflicted on families by addiction. The silent witnesses, who bear the brunt, trying to hold the fabric of the family together.

Behind closed doors, secrets reside,

A family’s struggle, they try to hide,

Addiction’s weight, heavy to bear,

Leaving scars, deep and rare.

 

Eyes that once sparkled, now dim with tears,

Holding onto memories, of happier years,

Every relapse, a new wound inflicted,

A family’s hope, further restricted.

 

But within these walls, hope persists,

Love’s resilience, forever exists,

In the face of pain, they stand by your side,

With open arms, always wide.

3. The Silent Watchers

This poem touches upon the perspective of family members silently watching a loved one’s descent into addiction, and their continuous attempts to pull them back towards the light.

Silent watchers, standing by,

Witnessing a loved one’s spirit fly,

Addiction’s grasp, pulling them under,

Family’s plea, loud as thunder.

 

Every intervention, each heartfelt plea,

Hoping they’d break free, hoping they’d see,

The love, the pain, the silent cries,

Behind every goodbye, every pair of eyes.

 

Yet, in this storm, family stands strong,

Believing, supporting, all along,

For the ties that bind, won’t easily sever,

In the quest for healing, they’ll give up never.

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Poems about Addiction and Family