Local poet, Heather Williams, saw her work, “Back Talk To The Mirror,” immortalized on a plaque on Saturday as part of the Catskilled Poetry for Healing project created by Dr. Sharon Kennedy-Nolle, Sullivan County Poet Laureate.

Williams introduced herself as supporters gathered for the unveiling at the Mamakating Library, describing herself as a 47-year-old who has struggled with addiction since the age of 14. For as long as she could remember, she has always had feelings of inferiority or inadequacy.

She described that she had her very first drink at the age of 14, and she said that she could feel from that moment of consumption that she had “arrived”.

“All of my insecurities had vanished, and from that moment I was my own champion,” described Williams. “The more I drank, the unfavorable and unfathomable behavior came with it.”

Williams detailed that death was a “very real option as I experienced overdose after overdose” – now she said that she now lives in Poughkeepsie where she continues to practice sobriety.

“I’m employed full-time and have a checking account,” Williams recounted. “I’m about to regain my driver’s license, who would’ve thought?”

“I’m now mending the wreckage of my past, my family who I’ve caused considerate pain to, and my family who had to see me so sick for so, so long.”

Regarding the poem, she said that she got to a point in her life where she didn’t recognize who she was, mentally, physically and emotionally.

She described it as being totally disconnected from herself. She became someone who she didn’t know, and she couldn’t recognize herself in the mirror.

It was this experience she stated that prompted her to write her poem.

“Today I’m just moved by the person who I became,” explained Williams, “Sharon’s  program really gave us an opportunity to express these feelings that people don’t want to hear. It’s a hard topic to address.”