Bridging the Chasm

Alone. Standing on the precipice
filled with fear and trepidation
paralyzed by the knowledge
of what lies behind, the abyss,
the addiction, the self-loathing,
the utter defeat and humiliation
but seeing no way out after years
filled with trying, failing, trying again,
asking for help and grabbing
at every twig offered for support
only to find yourself falling backwards
but deeper than ever before
in the mire and the dregs and the muck.
We stand alone on the precipice
and if we're desperate enough
and perhaps if we have contact
with someone else who found
a way out, whose life we can see
radiating a hope we can only dream of
then on that precipice we can see
twelve steps, footprints,
a bridge across the chasm,
the pathway to dreams.