He drew a circle that shut me out-
Heretic , rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him In! ~ Edwin Markham, “Outwitted”

A circle of friends
closer than family
blood of my blood,
bone of my bone
brothers and sisters
of my soul…
A fellowship, a community,
a family, this recovery people.
Certainly there’s a proclivity
to become a clique,
a congealed coterie.
But no, not at all.
Newcomers come to universal delight,
welcomed with open arms.
We never close ranks
but shoot back our chairs,
expanding the circle
to encompass new brothers,
embrace new sisters.
The circle grows to tighten
the bonds.