An Awakening

Written by, Anonymous

All men are not created equal.
This truth had slapped me blind,
In it’s evil way; By its own design.
Enter God’s will and now I see.
To see this truth is relief, although unpleasant.
Why me? Should I be given this burden…
This sickness which knows not compromise.
God’s will? His message of chance to my soul?
Learn to ask him into my life and I can forsake this Evil.
Deny his love and I shall be devoured; This seems to be his work.
This shortcoming known as addiction; Punishment or gift I do not know…
Yet it leads me to God; For that I am glad.

Published in A New Leaf – November 1991

  • Marijuana

    Written By, Dannie H. My heart ached for so long.And you told me it was alright.Realizing to smoke is pain,I thought about you all night.July of my last trip,Ugly, boring, and a shame.A newfound freedomNever fiending for you again.A new leaf I have turned, fake friend! Published By A New Leaf – January 2026

    Marijuana
  • Making It To Dry Land

    Written By, Lee N. A way to stay afloat. That’s what marijuana was for me. My therapist (cringing at myself for being a living, breathing queer, Jewish stereotype by starting a sentence this way but…if the shoe fits) recently shared with me a parable in which someone had compared their addiction to a life raft.…

    Making It To Dry Land
  • Choosing Life

    Written By, Mirabelle H. I smoked for the first time when I was 16. I didn’t feel anything physically, but emotionally, I felt guilt—like I was stepping over a line I wasn’t ready to cross. I told myself it would be different when I was older, when it was “okay.” So I made a deal…

    Choosing Life
  • Acrostic Poem

    Written & Created By, Jessyka Published by A New Leaf – January 2026

    Acrostic Poem
  • Solve It Again

    Written By, Aurelie E. Life isn’t a puzzle with edges that stay,nor a riddle that’s answered in only one day.It bends and it shifts, like the tide or the rain—you wake every morning, and solve it again. The pieces don’t fit the same as before,new doors may appear where there once was no door.The map…

    Solve It Again
  • Progress Not Perfection

    Created By, Chris P. Published By A New Leaf – January 2026

    Progress Not Perfection