Spenser Smith
Spenser Smith
Poem: Small deaths
Poem: Small deaths
Poem: Small deaths
Sunday 23rd January 2022
Listen to Spenser Smith's 'Small Deaths' on 'A Brief Relief Podcast' for a poetic reflection on addiction, loss, and hope.
1 minute
Thought-provoking
Raw
Informative
Hopeful
Authentic
About this podcast
Author:
Spenser Smith
Overview:
Categories:
Family Recovery from Addiction
Sobriety Day by Day
Creative Recovery Journeys
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Body & Mind
Links:
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Episodes:
5 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Spenser Smith's 'Small Deaths': A Poetic Reflection on Addiction and Loss
Death is an ant under your shoe, the unwatered spider plant, a grain of fentanyl thinner than a needle of Douglas fir.
Imagine standing in a lush rainforest, each step echoing the silent cries of those lost to addiction. That's the journey Spenser Smith takes you on in this episode of 'A Brief Relief Podcast'. Through his evocative poem 'Small Deaths', Smith explores the grim reality of drug overdoses in Vancouver, transforming raw pain into hauntingly beautiful words.
The poem begins with a stark Facebook comment, reminding us of the casual cruelty often found online: 'Eventually the problem should fix itself, just sayin...'. From there, Smith weaves a tapestry of imagery, likening death to an ant underfoot or an unwatered plant, each metaphor more chilling than the last. As he searches the rainforest for names of the dead, he finds no statistics, only nature’s silent witnesses like red alder and sword fern.
This episode isn’t just about loss; it’s about finding meaning amidst tragedy. Smith reads an obituary carved into the bark of an arbutus tree, bringing a personal touch to the abstract horror of overdose statistics. He paints a picture of Vancouver so tired of rain that it built coffee shops on every corner, questioning how many downpours and deaths it will take before we dig deep for solutions.
By the end of the episode, Smith leaves you with a glimmer of hope, urging us to seek out answers and not rest until we find them. This episode is a must-listen for anyone touched by addiction or seeking to understand its profound impact.