I always act up when I’ve had a bit to drink
I never tread carefully, don’t stop to think
I always forget – consequences arise
I never can see through another person’s lies
I always become innocent and sweet
I never look, just take a carefree leap
I always regret ignoring my concerns
I never pay attention, forget I need to learn
I always swear ‘I won’t do that again’
I never can think ‘no’, don’t ever say ‘when’
I always think that just one more is fine
I never see until too late – I’ve stepped over the line
It’s so far behind me now
I’ve lost the friends I had
Drink will be my only mate –
How did it get so bad?
Freya Writes... 
I like this! Wasn’t sure how your form worked until I read your explanation, but this is very clever. By the way…the last 4 lines…is it a rule that they have an ABCB rhyme structure?
Good question Bryan;
and Freya, – is there a set length to the lines?
Eek! Not necessarily. I’m not that strict 😉
Thank you! Hmm… I hadn’t *really* thought too much about the last 4 lines – I was just so relieved to have thought of something at all! No, that’s not a rule, although it could be… 😉
the abcb rhyme scheme at the end really seemed to cap it off nicely.
Maybe that’s why I instinctively adopted it. I do wonder if I don’t think quite enough when I write poetry – but then if I think too hard, it kind of doesn’t do what I’d intended! Ah, the tortured neural pathways of a creative, slightly angst-ridden person! 😉
Ah.. yes this is clever.. likejuxtaposing two theses against each other.. and use the repetitions for poetic effect.. very nice. I think it creates much more meaning in that (and I sincerely hopes it’s not that bad.. loosing all your friends I mean)
Thank you, Bjorn. Your new form did rather scare me, as it seemed so technical – oh the cares of a person who knows so little about poetry form at the moment! So, I adopted the simplistic approach – I’m very glad it worked. As for losing friends to the bottle – there are some in my family’s past that it happened to, sadly.
I thought this was really smart and your example poem well illustrates the form. I am thinking it could become difficult to find the “perfect” words in apposition but a worthy challenge. Well done!
Thank you, Gay. I agree, it could be quite limiting, however quasi-antonyms would suffice 🙂
oh nice….i can do this one…i might have to give it a try…
and i def remember the days when i was not too far from this..
luckily a long time ago…ha…
I have a friend who has struggled for a long time with addiction. I know for a fact that it would be very easy for me to go down that road. Kudos to you, for being strong every day. I’m glad you enjoyed my new form 🙂
A very cool form, Freya; one perhaps worthy of putting on MTB/FFA one day; enjoyed it a lot, might try it myself one day.
Thank you, Glenn – what a lovely compliment! I’m very pleased that you enjoyed it 🙂
sophisticated solution to the challenge !
Thank you! I couldn’t not take part – somehow or other!
I was impressed with how people took the challenge.
Me too!
I like your form, Freya; I think the “I always” and “I never” could work to produce a lot of poems. I do think the message of your poem packs a punch & gives the readers something to think about.
Thank you, Mary. I always have a moment of panic when I think I just don’t have a clue what to write – I never give in to it though 😉
Wow, this is a carefully thought-out form, Freya! I also like how you tell a story that is rounded up in your closing lines. And I hope you enjoyed that drinky!
Thank you 🙂
Yes, I enjoyed the drinky, although I don’t want to believe it helped too much with the inspiration – that’s a slippery road….
I enjoyed this Freya, ‘the lure of the bottle’? Really…..I like the struggle the poem conveys, very well done. Worked for me.
Thank you, Michael.
Oh this form reminds me of a word puzzle…I bet this was a fun challenge. My poetry book is growing full with all the new forms.
The poem itself is touching and sad and I hope not too autobiographical.
I’m glad you enjoyed it! No, not too autobiographical – I had an off-switch and a very good friend 🙂
Good friends are the best gifts we give ourselves.
Indeed we do.
I enjoyed it, though form is sometimes lost on me. I didn’t catch on until five or six lines in. I really more just dropped by to say hello. I’m feeling neglectful of my online friends. Hope you and your feet are well.
Yes, I’m not a huge form fan at the moment, although I did try a villanelle for a poetry comp last week. Goodness knows what the judges will think!
Neglectful? Really? Is your drive to attain the dizzy heights of published-ness taking up a lot of time? I’m sure it is – sometimes it is hard to get the balance right in your heart and mind, isn’t it? Fear not, you haven’t been struck off any online friend list of mine!
My feet are dandy 🙂
this has a neat construction. I like the idea of the opposites pairing off in each pair of rhyming lines.
just one more…until it’s too late…I think many can relate to this.
Thank you! Yes, ‘one more drink’ had probably been uttered in many languages, over hundreds of years. We humans just love the buzz!
I’m having the same ‘eeeek’ reaction that you had, but I love the way you’ve solved it. Shows we can complicate things on our own, thank you very much!
It’s also a list poem with a difference, isn’t it? I was wondering if you had a certain line length in mind?
Oh yes, I am *fabulous* at over-complicating things. I think it’s what I excel at 🙂
No, I didn’t really have a certain line length in mind – I didn’t want to make it too complicated!
Something fresh like this is bookmark worthy. Timeless subject executed in a relatable way. Loved it! smiles.
Thank you, Kelvin!
It’s very effective!
Thank you!
How bad that its the only drink now that its sole companion ~ Very interesting form too ~ Enjoyed the creative journey, smiles ~
Thank you, Grace.