ninehillsRAMBLE in the JUNGLE
Taming the Monster
By Wanaku Verdzekov · · Global
Tags: poem, addiction, alcohol, community
In the shadows of our lives,
Monsters lurk with silent cries.
Alcohol and smoke entwined,
A struggle many seek to find.
It seems, at times, a distant dream,
To change the ways that tear at seams.
Yet change, my friends, is always near,
With knowledge bright to quell our fear.
Like the moon that journeys through the night,
Transformation comes, a hopeful sight.
Yesterday's child, now a man,
Together, let's take a stand.
Our worries grow when change is slow,
But united hearts can make it flow.
We've learned to fight, to face our plight,
With courage deep and futures bright.
No magic pill to ease our pain,
But wisdom shared can break the chain.
Each of us holds a vital part,
A piece of truth, a beating heart.
So let's embrace the road ahead,
With open minds and hearts well-fed.
In the dance of change, we find our song,
Taming the monster, together we're strong.
TM
— Wanaku Verdzekov
Reading & grammar
Reading level: Gr 6–8
Understand
- What are the two "monsters" named in the poem?
- According to the poem, what can break the chain of addiction, if not a magic pill?
- What does the image of the moon suggest about change?
Grammar focus: metaphor. A metaphor says one thing is another: addiction is a "monster". Unlike a simile, it does not use like or as. The metaphor makes an abstract problem feel like something that can be fought and tamed.
Try it: Find two more metaphors in the poem. Then turn one of them into a simile using like or as.
Discuss: Is addiction best fought by individuals or by communities? Use lines from the poem to support your answer.