Sober

I have had a new feeling word added to my vocabulary: existent.  When a person has gotten used to not feeling anything, existent can be a good place to start.  Across the room from existent was exuberant,  Quite the range.

The group began with mindfulness,

Shorthand for closing our eyes

And being quiet for a time.

Then came the feeling word,

A group rule,

A house rule.

Last night they were also asked

For weekend plans.

The second to the last guy said he felt

Existent.

Everyone knew

What he meant.

So much of chemical use

Is escape from the world

As it really is.

The last guy asked

If everyone knew the word sober really meant:

Son Of a B****, Everything*s Real.

The laughter lasted

A long time.

I never would have thought existent

Was a feeling word.

Clearly

It is.