September 14, 2025
Word of the day and recovery rhyme for September
The word for today is Perpetuity, and some may call this timeless (Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day Calendar, with other definitions)
Perpetuity (noun)
the state or quality of lasting forever, or a very long time:
a bond or other security with no fixed maturity date.
a restriction making an interest in land inalienable perpetually or for a period beyond certain limits fixed by law.
Timeless (adjective)
not affected by the passage of time or changes in fashion:
“Antiques add to the timeless atmosphere of the dining room.”
Spirit lasts forever
Free will is an ever
lasting way
is what I say
We can choose
to drink booze
or not
We can rot
by choice
or rejoice
in recovery
As I made a discovery
that my life together
is so much better
with those using free will
to not take any addictive pill
to choose recovery over half a life
and all of the strife
to endure with using
drugs and boozing
~
My wish to live in perpetuity
clean and sober is my duty
for future generations
and healing past relations
Life in recovery is timeless
and crimeless.
~~
Author’s Note: Native American people could not drink alcohol openly until a law was rescinded that said they could not drink in bars and buy alcohol, or face jail time. That law changed in 1953, the year before I was born.
I saw a lot of problem drinking and alcoholism growing up, and I continue to see it. I also see a lot of recovery. I began my recovery on September 24, 1978, when our people got religious freedom, and I stopped smoking cigarettes and marijuana. Two years later, I quit drinking alcohol and taking drugs on September 26, 1980.
~~~~
First published by Mercury Press on medium.com
About the Creator
Denise E Lindquist
I am married with 7 children, 28 grands, and 13 great-grandchildren. I am a culture consultant part-time. I write A Poem a Day in February for 8 years now. I wrote 4 - 50,000 word stories in NaNoWriMo. I write on Vocal/Medium daily.



Comments (10)
Congrats on your TS 🎉🎉
Congrats on your Top Story
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
A wonderful expression of your recovery and the struggles of your people—of all people, really. Thank you for sharing this with us, and congrats on the Top Story!
congratulations on TS. This is the way we should all strive to live.
What a meaningful poem! Top Story congratulations! 🎊
Congratulations on your life feats. A poem that shows how life goes in ways.
This was so beautiful and uplifting. Loved your poem!
I’d actually never heard the word perpetuity before. I love how you wove it into such a personal and powerful reflection on recovery.
Wonderful achievements, Denise, and nicely expressed in your poem.