Michael Lee - The Addict, a Magician
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
- Get Michael's book THE ONLY WORLDS WE KNOW here: bit.ly/michaell...
Become a Member for exclusive perks and videos: bit.ly/ButtonM...
Michael Lee, performing at Rustbelt 2013 in Madison, WI.
Want to choose which videos run on Button: bit.ly/ButtonC...
About Button:
Button Poetry is committed to developing a coherent and effective system of production, distribution, promotion and fundraising for spoken word and performance poetry.
We seek to showcase the power and diversity of voices in our community. By encouraging and broadcasting the best and brightest performance poets of today, we hope to broaden poetry's audience, to expand its reach and develop a greater level of cultural appreciation for the art form.
"Addiction is the ethereal art of forgetting that you are still here." Preach, my man. Damn.
"The addict will drink the sea until it becomes him." I applaud his creativity and genuineness. He really knows what its like and exactly how to phrase it.
achingly beautiful isn't it?
Joseph Lopez u
🎙🎶🎼
"The most dangerous neighborhood is the one in my head." I love this line.
"I feel ill to even think it, but I have to thank you" gets me every time.
I listened to this over and over when it first came out. I cried, ugly and on the floor, desperate to stop.
I'm 16 months sober today. It took a lot longer than that to get here. The road wasn't linear. Don't give up if you're struggling, friends... if what you're doing isn't working, keep looking, inward and outward, whatever it takes. For me, it was a shift in my relationship with and how I understood God. I don't know what it'll be for you - I just know that there's something for you. Something other than slow suicide, something other than escape, than numbness, than oblivion. You belong here, and you are more than your wounds, more than your shame, more than what you've done and what was done to you.
Every poem of his I watch, I find myself holding my breath, not on purpose, and when it ends I just gasp. In other words, Michael Lee makes me feel some type of way.
the difference between the addict and the one who is drowning, is the one who is drowning knows it.
Sometimes the addict knows it too......
gives me goosebumps every fucking time
Holy shit this is underrated. Love this guy.
As a fellow addict..... thank you. Your words hit me like a tidal wave, giving voice to the jumbled mess inside my head that I can't articulate, and reminding me that, yes; I want to continue my journey. Yes; the things I have gone through are real and ugly and sometimes terrifying. But, what matters is that there is beauty in this life and I am curious enough to want to see what might happen next.
Thank you Michael and button poetry, tonight is one of those nights that (yet again) I needed to hear this.
Jennifer Rodgers hey man i am wishing u the best :)
This poem gets me every time. He describes it so accurately and with such beautiful language and imagery and metaphors. I used to listen when I was in the deepest depths of heroin addiction, homeless, choosing that fox over food, family, friends everything. And I used to listen and be like damn this kid has had five years sober, I’ll never have that. But as someone who graduated with an English Degree and had a raging addiction to heroin this poem was my shit.
Now, I still listen, it’s still accurate. You’re always nervous about relapse. I’ve had a year clean, a decent job, and I’m moving into MY own whole house next week. But I love this poem because it reminds me that it’s only one slip and it might be your last.
I’m not in AA or NA or anything but they do have a good message. And my thoughts, vibes, prayers whatever to anyone in recovery they are fucking warriors. But more so, God, I really wish solace and peace for the addicts still out there, still suffering, still living crazy for a substance that doesn’t give a fuck about you. I hope they all find the peace and happiness I’ve been able to. And if they don’t, I hope they somehow are still okay. Everyone is human. And addicts are so often treated as less than. I hope we move forward and better solutions become available to combat this sneaky shitty condition called addiction.
Couldn't drink because your name was stuck in my throat. Brilliant.
The magician revealed his secrets and showed us beauty beyond measure though his suffering this is beautiful.
there are tears in my eyes.
Absolutely brilliant. One of the most powerful and crystal clear depictions of an addict I've ever heard. Took my breath away. Just the last line, you didn't deserve it, but you got it, now what are you willing to do to keep it.
I dont think I could make it at a poetry slam. I would burst into tears and ask every one of them if they had peered into my soul and spied the secrets. Bringing forth the unwanted, unaccepted and unappreciated to light. But Im sure they would welcome me anyway.
He should never stop writing.
This poem, this video, has meant a lot to me for a long time. It has gotten me through some hard times.
Been sober for almost 5 years now. This brought tears to my eyes because I have felt almost everything he shared. I loved it, and it reminded me of how raw that first year of sobriety was for me. Thanks for bringing that back. I need help remembering where I came from some times.
I've been struggling with the issue of sobriety for years... nothing pushes me to continue the path towards cleanliness than this video, thank you for saving another life Mr. Lee
You're doing great. I don't know you, but stick with it bud, you got it.
I don't know you, but I'm sending you so much love.
This truth of this poem is so engrossing it swallows time hole and delivers itself in omniscience. Amazing.
The first time i watched this i was only a kid. Since, ive been addicted to alcohol pills and heroin, and this poem hits home more than ever
I don't know if it's my mother's meth addiction or my friend's cousin's meth addiction or my uncle's alcoholism or my dad's alcoholism but I always come back to this poem. I feel connected to it like I understand it on every level and listening to it touches me in every nerve.
Wow, this guy has got such a gift with words and putting emotions across !
this moved me more than anything ever has.
I am sitting in my room watching all the videos on this youtube page
Same
Madalyn Phillips I'm getting addicted to this idk why...
Tuong Dang the power of poetry ;)
Me.
Can't watch this without getting teary eyed. This hits me hard.
This poem actually got me through some hard times. Now that I’m sober I keep coming back to it
I was watching a movie on TV and turned it off to finish watching this. Then, I replayed this so that I could hear what I missed the first time. AMAZING!!!! WOW!!!
"you wanted to learn how to remove the emptiness from yourself. you never understood it cannot be removed."
I watch this all the time. It reminds me of the reasons why I'm working towards a career helping those struggling with addiction. I've stood in very similar shoes to the ones which inspire Michael Lee to write such powerful poetry.
I´m not a big poetry person, but this was so powerful. The raw emotion in his voice and the way he describes addiction so fucking accurately made my chest seize up. This guy knows what it is to have a substance put it´s hooks in you and never let you go.
crying, the hardest thing I will ever do. staying sober, for those of us who won't make it, who didn't make it, I owe it to live my life where they didn't get the chance ..This shit really hit home, and every word is true.
+Jessi Derps I feel you. I realize this comment is old but I hope you're doing better and feel good
+daceowptain 8 almost 9 months sober now ;) so thankful.
Jessi Derps Good for you :) Don't know you, but proud of you for being strong and overcoming such a thing. Still fighting my own addictions myself and I know how hard it is. I hope you grow happier and prouder each day :]
daceowptain thank you, it means a lot even if we don't know each other. I hope the same for you in your struggles! And I am always here to listen if you feel inclined to vent
I just want my sister to quit doing drugs... It feels like she isn't there anymore. I can see that she's devouring herself and she's completely convinced herself that her magic is real. Her nightmares. Her fears. All real. Yet all lies. This. This video, I hope it makes her feel something, so it reassures me that she's still there. That she knows that she's real.
Honey, I know how it feels. Two years ago I lost my big brother to an overdose. Loving an addict is the hardest thing imaginable. You just have to remind yourself that it isn't your fault. You can't change someone who doesn't want to be changed. Love your sister, no matter what. But, protect yourself. Look for God, he will help you through it.
My father is an alcoholic. I'm scared to show this to him in fears he wouldn't to admit it to himself. He's a great father, but his problem is so bad. He drinks everyday. I just hope this can shed some light to his addiction.
goosebumps! goosebumps! I can't...
Got the chills.
im in love with him
I cry helplessly every time i watch this
gave me chills and brought tears to my eyes. Your tongue is powerful and sharp, thank you for sharing your art.
This is so beautifully written. You can feel the emotion. His description is perfect.
THIS MADE ME TEAR UP. And gave me chills.
I remember when I thought wow “5 years….” I finally reached my 8 years in August. I adore this poem. It’s helped me for each of those years…
Oh man that was INTENSE. He was on fire! Wow!
this always makes me cry
I love poetry and this is my all time favorite poem, everytime it makes my heart sink, it's so beautiful.
... My goosebumps have goosebumps...
I've been looking for this poem for so long. Thank you.
This is completely incredible. "What sleeps must one day wake"
This poem speaks to me on too many levels. It's beautiful and I am torn.
I just bought your book! Your poetry speaks to me. Never stop! Please!
I had full body chills for atleast ten seconds
I can't stop watching this!
"what sleeps must one day wake" just wow
Every time I finish a Michael Lee poem for the first time I find myself shaking.
“addiction is the ethereal art of forgetting that you are still here”
The mind of the addict is cunning enough to convince the body it is not dying. 11 years later I'm still here brother!
Goosebumps galore
Incredible. He is beautiful..
wow! this brought tears to my eyes! this was awesome
he is amazing, such a beautifully powerful way with words.
I bet at lest quarter of the 400k views are addicts, and more than 90 percent of them are inspired. This is some powerful stuff!
right on!! powerful!! brought tears
This is paradigm changing. I'm not a user, but I've spent the past few days trying to understand drug abuse, especially fentanyl, and this video helps me get inside a users head. It's scary.
Made me tear up!
beautiful. beautiful beautiful beautiful
You are amazing! Thank you thank you thank you!
this is magic
its addicting
Minnesota goes hard!
UGH! MIKEY. YOU YOU YOU.You're the boss. You.
Brought me to tears. Amazing work.
This was absolutely breathtaking.
So much passion....it was truly beautiful...
"The difference between an addict and the one who's drowning, is the one who's drowning knows it." Fucking beautiful.
this will never not send shivers down my spine
Still listening to this after 10 years.
"The addict will drink the sea until it becomes him."
Chills all over
Holy.shit. Wow. That was one of the most incredible things I've EVER seen/heard.
it hits home so much...
wow. michael, wow. i'm speechless. you're amazing.
this guy is amazing....nailed it...goosebumps
I think i love this guy.
Holy Shit. This gave me goosebumps. That was so amazing....
Michael Lee is my favorite!! Got to see him do his thing. I break down every time I watch this and I watch it ALOT. Houdini don't have shit on an addict!! WOW, ain't that the truth.
Thank you for sharing what I could never put into words!
This made me cry..
I can't handle this poem.
Never really liked poetry - or rather the way people read it. But this time I felt it. Great piece of work..
You need to come to Hastings. I have been out of high school for 4 years now, but still know that YOU, YOU'RE, voice needs to be heard, echoing through ought the bleachers of my forgotten High School...we are ones, with-ought voice, with-ought the voice to say the things that you say. If you ever want someone to speak at schools with or go on trips, WITH-OUGHT, or with pay, I don't care. I just want people to know they are not alone. Not with the struggles we face..
Can't believe this.. beauty.
We can only live for today. You arw awesome. Keep it for everything and yourself
So many feels
You are right on the button ....
Very powerful words. Amazing.
I want to show this to every single person who devalues people who are addicted to any substance.
POWERFUL!
I got addicted to cutting. That was a hard rut to get out of and I still poke myself/bite my lips when I get too anxious.
This is perfect.
phenomenal
that is the magic of perception
I. Love. Him.