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Julie @ The WordWise Project's avatar

“The pain didn’t kill me..it built me.” I loved that so very, very much.

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neal riggers's avatar

it was a very raw moment for me. thank you for reading!

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Shadow Journal Dispatch's avatar

Thank you for writing this, sometimes poetry is the only way we can find the words to transform something that is truly traumatic and devastating. And it was beautiful, thank you Neal.

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neal riggers's avatar

thank you for reading!!!

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Rachel G. Vick's avatar

Neal, your words are raw yet beautifully crafted. That takes so much skill; thank you for sharing this with us.

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neal riggers's avatar

thank you so much! i appreciate you reading it 😭

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мarialex g.'s avatar

i didn’t know how much i needed to read this until i did. the way you hold pain, honesty, and growth in the same sentence.. it’s not just brave, it’s holy.

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neal riggers's avatar

thank you so much!!!

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Alexis Nicole's avatar

When you write, it feels like the words are on my shoulders like Im living in your world. It’s beautiful, it’s harsh and real asf. And I think thats exactly what poetry is . THIS is by far my favorite🔥🔥

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neal riggers's avatar

thank you so much 😭🤞🏾 i was scared to drop this one fasho

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Amanda Izzo's avatar

“and yeah,

i feel like muhammad ali

on the days i don’t flinch.

on the days i rise with a swollen face

but still dance in the ring with my guilt.”

This quote knocked the wind out of me.

I never really open up about this, but this September marks 14 years clean for me. At sixteen I became addicted to heavy substances my then twenty something boyfriend sold. By eighteen, I looked around and saw all of my friends dealing with the revolving doors or the healthcare centers and prison systems. I knew that would become my life. So I kicked and never looked back.

Today, only a very small percentage of them remain.

This brought me to tears. I felt like you wrote this for us. For me, for them, for anyone in the struggle.

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neal riggers's avatar

oh wow! im glad i could pen something that could hit home. I didn’t really want to release this one but i felt like it was bigger than me and im glad i was right, thank you for sharing that!

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Julie @ The WordWise Project's avatar

Absolutely wonderful and soul-filled piece, Neal! I’ve subscribed so I can read more!

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