The Top of the Hill

Here's a link to my you tube channel, where I read from my latest books https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxOye9wk3Xg

As a child, I had that fleeting belief

that life would be a battle,

a raging war,

and I’d come home a hero.

Dragons and monsters in the rearview,

blood and guts on my boots,

a house with a light on for me,

a family waiting at the door.

I believed in that kind of ending.

I wanted that kind of ending.

Instead, I broke things I said I’d protect.

I treated love like flowers from a garden�"

cut and placed in a vase on the table,

admired sometimes,

but never really seen.

I took them for granted

until they weren’t there anymore.

I drank like it could fill the space in me

that kept echoing back.

And I can’t blame them for leaving.

For the longest time

I figured that was the story.

The final scene, dark theater, credits rolling.

Lying under bridges,

empty vodka bottles for a pillow.

Vomit and degradation

felt like my plight, like the only ending left.

But I got humble.

Something picked me up from the gutter

and rearranged my values,

my thought process.

And it hasn’t been the same since.

Now it’s quieter.

Nine irons instead of war drums.

Fairways greener than my youth.

Walleye on the grill.

Cats on the couch

like they’ve always belonged there.

No dragons left.

The monsters are all dead.

Just mornings that stay.

Just breath,

and the long work of making it right

one day at a time.

Author's Note

Just uploaded a new long-form poetry reading on YouTube.

Featuring work from Aluminum Cowboys and a preview from my upcoming book Searching for Nod (coming November). New reading, new selections, same simple at-home format.

Watch here:
https://youtu.be/kxOye9wk3Xg

Books on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-W.-Case/author/B0CL2RKDGX?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=xsU45&content

Appreciate you being here.

Reviews

[Soren]

The journey to responsibility and what society calls growing up. Such a poetic confession Thomas this takes bravery such as I have not yet acquired and maturity that I hope someday to obtain. Lovely write

[red93]

A true song of Redemption Thomas from a man who has come thru. If only more guys could recognise the terrible wickedness and multiple evils of alcohol.

The alcoholic guy in the Shared House here was finally evicted by the way. Things reached a head when he started hurling racist abuse at Samuel, the House Manager. Good riddance.

Exceptional ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Michael Sun Bear]

You are an inspiration Thomas for turning your life around. “ No dragons” just “cats on the couch like they’ve always belonged there.” I hope for you sobriety until you breathe your last breath. You give me hope.

[Mauricio Montoya]

This write touch my heart because I became homeless at young age your word brings back memories in which I can relate we live life but your ending made me think, one day at a time.
Thank you for sharing.

[Neville]

Hey folks, this guy can write .. and he does so like nobody else .. Go check him out & then treat yourself to one or two of his books, if you don't and you like proper gutsy poetry, then you may live to regret it .. Oh' n you can pay me later Thomas .. Neville 😎👍

[Buddhistboy73]

This is a powerful write Thomas....you can feel the emotion and struggle behind each word.

You do a great job of taking the reader on a journey...exploring the lows and degradation of spirit until something shifts.....

I liked the transformation in this poem...

Thanks for sharing bro

BB