ALONG THE BARREN ROAD

Tag: addiction

  • Mental Illness And Misinformation

    Mental Illness And Misinformation

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    by

    Justin Farley

    What’s something most people don’t understand? It’s astounding how many people still completely misunderstand mental illness. Well, maybe not astounding because it’s hard for me to understand despite personally dealing with it for a large percentage of my life. But I guess what I’m referring to is the amount of people who believe mental illness…

  • Why Can’t You Drink? Misunderstanding Alcoholism and Addiction

    Why Can’t You Drink? Misunderstanding Alcoholism and Addiction

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    by

    Justin Farley

    What’s a question you hate to be asked? Why can’t you drink? Why can’t you control your drinking? A short post about misunderstanding alcoholism and addiction.

  • Mountains and Valleys – A Poetic Autobiography

    Mountains and Valleys – A Poetic Autobiography

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    by

    Justin Farley

    What is the opening sentence of my autobiography? … well, I’ve climbed to the top of life’s mountain and fallen into the muck of the valley. Pain, failure, and redemption are the main characters of my story.

  • Metamorphosis A Poem About Butterflies and God’s Grace

    Metamorphosis A Poem About Butterflies and God’s Grace

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Metamorphosis A Poem About Butterflies and God’s GraceInching along the earthcrunching, munching on misfortuneuntil pain wrapped itself like a cocoon -a castle outside the rooms of a hardened heart.Drowning, surely dying in the dark.Only to emerge from the wombreborn from a tomb of self-inflicted woundstransformed by the Divine spark.With wings of vibrant colorcarrying the evidence…

  • Pocket Pleasure Poem

    Pocket Pleasure Poem

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Pocket Pleasure Poem About Being Addicted to Your Phone and Technology Every time I turn you on and wake you from your technological slumber, I feel your curses swimming through my mind – electrical impulses gripping me without consent. And then I hate my neediness. Hate my discontent, unable to sit alone in the silence…

  • Seasons of Winter Poem About Spring

    Seasons of Winter Poem About Spring

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Seasons of WinterPoem About SpringThe ice is melting,thawing away from the land,flowing back into the handsof its maker.Nature’s enchantment shatterswith a single kiss from springclinging to the warmthof renewal, rebirth, reawakening.And in each pile of snowthat dissolves my heart beatswith a disposition towards hopesledding down slopes of solacetaking comfort in the possibility to copewith my…

  • Letting Go Poem About Trusting in God

    Letting Go Poem About Trusting in God

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Letting Go Poem about Trusting in God Troubles slip through my fingers like sand as long as I cling to your commands, letting your Word direct my way – floodgates to block and keep me at bay. But it’s never easy to deny yourself entry, shackling your will under lock and key of the sentry.…

  • Running Poem About Changing and Working on Yourself

    Running Poem About Changing and Working on Yourself

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    by

    Justin Farley

    RunningCan I get a cup of wineto drown the time,to float away fromthis heavy heart of mine?Or perhaps a speedy carthat’ll take me fast so faraway from these expired dreamsnow void of stars?Maybe a boat to sail these seasthat swallow me with easeeach time the tide of my moodshelplessly carries me out with no reprieve?But…

  • Fasting in the Desert A Godly Poem About Contemplation and Selfishness

    Fasting in the Desert A Godly Poem About Contemplation and Selfishness

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Fasting in the Desert Strip yourself naked, unclothed of selfish desire. For it requires fuel to burn just as a raging fire. If all thoughts revolve around me and mine, how am I to hear the voice of God, how am I to feel the presence of the Divine? It’s by starving addictions that we…

  • A Poem About Recovery Hope and Change

    A Poem About Recovery Hope and Change

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    by

    Justin Farley

    No Matter No matter how hard it is to keep the fire burning, no matter how many disappointments have visited you without warning, no matter how many different trials you’ve sat through today, though the verdict may be hard to swallow, tomorrow, tomorrow’s another day. And it may seem impossible in this moment, but in…

  • The Cost of Freedom – Recovery Addiction Poem

    The Cost of Freedom – Recovery Addiction Poem

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    by

    Justin Farley

    The Cost of Freedom Confining walls, prison cell; there’s no shame in wearing a straight jacket if it makes you well. Dirty dishes, soiled clothes; it’s a heavy burden to keep your house clean on your own. Hidden secrets, concealed lies; they are the extent of your sickness – the enemy of recovery is pride.…

  • Grace – A Poem

    Grace – A Poem

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Grace – A Poem I am awed by the way you move me like freshly fallen snowflakes dusting across the frozen ground. Some days I forget the barren tundra from which I came and how you whispered by name, echoing across that vacant landscape so that a lost soul could be found. Some days time…

  • Living With Fear – A Poem About Anxiety Disorder and Mental Illness

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Living With Fear – A Poem About Anxiety and Mental Illness Close your eyes.Keep yourself blindTo the hideous beastThat hides beneath this veil of security. Pretend you can’t see meFor who I am –A scared, frightened, shell of a manRaging in the solitude of fear’s prison. I can’t even stand the visionThat stares back at…

  • Illusions – A Poem

    Illusions – A Poem

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Illusions – A Poem The demon water you drinkIs devouring your soul.Don’t you know this road has no happy endingAnd your heart will turn cold? Repeating lies does not change reality.Sooner or later you’ll have to face life’s inevitable truth.Don’t set yourself on foolish paths, don’t chase foolish pursuits,And hang your happiness up by your…

  • Poem About Feeling Alone and Misunderstood

    Poem About Feeling Alone and Misunderstood

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Alien –  A Poem Feelings run too deeplike the full summer moon,sinking in the sky’s dark sea of black.Reminiscing, pondering over burnt out stars,wishing their beautiful light could somehow be brought back. But the ancient dust has crumbled,scattered like ashes in the brisk solar wind.But memories stand transfixed,unaltered by time, suspendedin infinity’s domain without an…

  • Raven

    Raven

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    by

    Justin Farley

    Raven Jet black feathers fall from your head And brush the beauty of your cheek. Dark as night like strands of onyx Woven with omens and tales of mystery. The spell you caw claws at my heart and captivates me. Emerald eyes like a pair of dazzling jewels, Sparkling and rousing lust like a treasure…

  • The Mirror of Truth – A Poem

    The Mirror of Truth – A Poem

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    by

    Justin Farley

    The Mirror of Truth – A Poem Into the mirror I gaze and am wrapped within the frame of a smoky haze of secrets swirling within glass. I can’t deny the face, can’t pretend I don’t know, have no trace of realization that the figure before my eyes is me. It’s unsettling to see the…

  • Life’s Amphitheater – A Poem About Helping the Less Fortunate

    Life’s Amphitheater – A Poem About Helping the Less Fortunate

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    by

    Justin Farley

    As I was driving down the road the other day and came to a stoplight, my eyes fell upon a young woman begging on the side of the road. I must admit that often times I am quick to judge out of pride or wonder why they are too lazy to pick themselves up and…


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My Poetry Collections

the book cover of Nature's Bounty by Justin Farley— a poetry collection about the beauty of nature with subjects on birds, plants, trees, animals, the forest, and God.
A deep poetry book about the beauty of nature and the natural world by poet Justin Farley.
the book cover of Frozen Rivers by Justin Farley— a poetry collection about depression and the hardships of mental illness, balanced with nature poems on the season of winter.
Deep poems about depression and the hardships of mental illness, balanced with nature poems on the winter season by poet Justin Farley. Book 1 of the Seasons series.
a mental health poetry book about joy and nature poems on the season of spring
Inspirational poems about mental health, healing, and spring by poet Justin Farley. Book 2 of the Seasons series.
the book cover of Summer Days Sunburnt Nights by Justin Farley— a mental health poetry book about bipolar disorder and nature poems on the season of spring
Deep poems about bipolar disorder and being neurodivergent, balanced with nature poems on summer by poet Justin Farley. Book 3 of the Seasons series.
the book cover of A Voice in the Wilderness—A Chapbook of Poems About God by Justin Farley. It is a deep Christian poetry collection about contemplation, the spiritual journey, and finding grace through Jesus.
A contemplative, prayerful Christian poetry book about the spiritual journey and discovering God’s grace, mercy, and love.
the book cover of Thorns of Love by Justin Farley. It is a deep love poetry collection about sadness of breakups, divorce, and heartbreak.
A deep love poetry book about the pain of break ups and the heartbreak felt when relationships end by poet Justin Farley.