I became a recovered alcoholic/addict, and then a recovery Coach Professional, and a strong advocate of addiction and mental health awareness.

When did you start using poetry to help you? 

I had started writing poetry when I was 15 years old - at first for a girl I really liked and who was also my best friend. Lovey dovey, mushy stuff, yet from the reactions I was getting from her, it let me know I was creating a reaction from my words. And so eventually I found myself writing poetry from a personal place - using poetry as therapy to release the things I was feeling and going through at the time. And, as time went by, writing poetry has grown into a life of its own and has became second nature for me. I feel poetry is truly wordart that comes from a very personal place of self expression, and can be felt by so many who may be in a similar space and place, and can be felt on so many levels and ways, depending on how visual and emotionally written it is. And poetry can be life-changing thing too, and can actually save lives!

How could other people benefit from writing poetry?

I feel so many people can benefit from writing poetry! We all have something inside of us - a story just waiting to be told. Poetry is a form of self-expression that can help us all, and a wonderful therapeutic tool we can use to truly find out about ourselves. By writing about our pains, stresses, happiness, joys, sadness and depressions, ups and downs, etc., it gives a voice when we may sometimes feel like no one else would understand or know how we are feeling. Yet what many may not realize is that there are so many other people out there going through very similar things, and what may come from a personal place of oneself, could be the voice or language that could be felt by so many. I feel poetry is such a very spiritual thing, and can connect with so many others worldwide.

Where do you like to write, and when?

I really enjoy being in a place where I tend to not be disturbed, and a place I can be motivated creatively. However, I don't have a specific time; it could be anytime that I feel inclined to create something. When that feeling comes, I feel it must be written, yet not to rush it or to force it, let it come naturally and free ... like how the wind breezes and water flows in a stream.

Have you had any poetry published?

I started posting my work onto social media (Facebook and Instagram) in February of 2017, sharing my work on live readings, as well as onto other poetry groups on Facebook. I am the founder of the poetry group forums "Payton's Place of Poetry", "Reflections of Life in Poetry" and "Payton's Paintings & friends poetry/art group" and have a poetry book available on Amazon called "Scattered Colors" I am also currently working on an anthology based on addiction and mental health awareness called: "You Can ... Recover: Beaconing Lights of C.A.R.E (Creative Artists Recovering Efforts), available shortly.

THE HINDERING DEMON

Why is it that in human nature,

We tend to develop habits,

That are detrimental and deadly?

Either legal, illegal, or prescribed,

Demonic chemicals disguised as healers,

To make us whole, functional, and to even think or feel,

Why do we tend to want to kill ourselves?

Yes, you may have dodged a few bullets,

Yet it doesn't make you bulletproof.

Could and maybe increase your dosage,

Tolerance has arrived,

Now we double up and double down.

Down the hatch with a pill,

A needle in the vein,

Not having these things in life,

Causes so much pain, makes you go insane.

Why do we tend to hurt,

Ourselves, close and loved ones?

Yes, you're hurting and feening,

Yet your feelings for others are numb.

It's like you're burning on a stake,

Your addiction is engulping,

The demonic chemicals keep kindling the fire.

Everyone that's part of your life,

Have to watch you,

Destroying, degressing, tearing down,

Pleading for you to come back and out of this.

YOU'RE NOT LIVING!! THIS IS NOT LIVING!!

Death is in the shadows,

Waiting for the right moment.

Why is it that you give your heart,

Assistance, advice, a helping hand?

It isn't good or strong enough,

To break their choices or mind.

It's a vicious cyclone,

Of misery, grief, and despair,

Spinning you, till you're lost.

 Why do we and must endure,

This hindering demon.

ABOUT TIM

Timothy Wade Payton, born June 18th 1976, is an American writer, Abstract Artist, Animation Artist, Award-winning poet, Self-Published Poetry Author, Spoken Word Artist, Best-selling Co-Author, Book reviewer, Founder of the Facebook Poetry Group's, "Reflections of Life in Poetry", "Payton's Place of Poetry" and "Payton's Paintings & friends Poetry/art group" Recovery Coach Professional, Advocate of Addiction and Mental Health, Ambassador of Humanity representing Ghana, West Africa, Universal Ambassador of Peace representing France, One of top 55 poets selected by Pentasi B World Friendship Poetry forum for The Poet Laureate of USA 2024, Certified by Blueridge CTC, "Core Education" Certificate, "Recovery Coach Of The Year 2024" awarded by GRaCE (Greater Recovery and Community Empowerment), literary critic, poetic tutor, Board Member of Rinascimento-Renaissance Millennium III (RRM3), Trending Poet of The Year 2024, from the poetry forum "Trending Poets" from Facebook. Timothy is known for his word art and elusive spoken word. Timothy has a poetry book available on Amazon called "Scattered Colors" and a anthology available on Lulu called "You Can... Recover: Beaconing Lights of C.A.R.E."

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