Ode to Alcohol

 You take the first drink

And you barely notice

The world has not changed

Just a drink with friends

Lost in the flow of conversation

 

You take another drink

Uncaring, unconcerned, so easy

And you talk some talk

And the worries still nibble you away

But you don’t know and you don’t care

 

Third drink comes so natural

Who’s counting? It’s a good time

Holding your life at bay

For just a little longer

Bottled sanity

 

You have no worries, no reality

Everyone does it

It’s no big deal

We all need to have some fun

Doesn’t mean you need it to cope

 

Four and five are down

Time for six

Yesterday you worried

Now you feel great

Can’t have too much happy

 

It’s not one too many if it feels so good

The world has altered just enough

It looks a little different

Tongue a little looser

Confident, relaxed

 

It’s not poison if it makes you better

The liquor is your medicine

At least for tonight

Your tonic for the soul

Enough, enough… but maybe one more?

 

Seventh drink, you’re a little unsteady

But it’s all good fun

Another down,

Another to go,

That’s how it goes after all

 

Eight drinks in and you feel the lurch

As your world moves to a darker place

Slightly sick in the stomach

Who’s having a good time now?

But this is a party that you can’t leave

 

You committed now

Committed to react the only way you know how

So as it gets darker, and woozier

You only know one way out

But it’s the same exit you took already

 

So you keep drinking

Knowing you can fight through this phase

Knowing you’re not going to turn around now

The glass is a sacrament

The bottle your altar

 

Nine drinks and you love it and hate it

Now you’re getting to the truth

Now you know yourself

And those around you

And you see their every shadow

 

So do you like this place you created?

You can’t know in the haze

Now you’re not celebrating

You’re punishing yourself

And calling it leisure

 

As you pour number ten

The whispers of disquiet get louder

The trickle of the liquor becomes a roar

Drowning out any protest

Alcohol, like DNA, exists only to perpetuate itself

 

You drink while it consumes you

A roller-coaster without brakes

You’re no longer enjoying it

But you cannot get off this ride

And you don’t know why

 

And so there go eleven and twelve

Heading for the only thing that can stop this possession

The thing you set out to achieve and avoid

Complete submission...

The floor.

Reviews

[SpokenWord]

I am glad I no longer drink like this, no more worshiping the porcelain goddess in the bathroom of some nasty bar, or taking a chance behind the wheel, no more falling and waking up wondering how did I get here in the first place. Age comes wisdom for some and now a drink is simply a drink and not to get drunk.

I was thinking the person in this poem is going to alcohol poisoning . I do love the ending of the poem complete submission ... the floor. LOL that was funny and when this happens to someone we often get our magic markers out and begin to draw on them to remind them in the morning that they past out.

[John Jackson (El Juero)]

The floor...been dragged out on my heels more than once.
Off to read #2.
My own Ode is incubating...will arrive this summer.
This work slowly builds. Strong writing, as usual.

[Angela]

absolutely, incredibly heartwrenching. Only someone who knows this truth could be so adept at putting it to pen and ink. this goes to my favorites! This made my throat ache

[Lilly Negoi]

tick-tock goes the clock reaching twelve...time's up:)...

[Ed Hart]

frems don' lep frems stay sober

[Coyote Poetry]

Some people are lucky. They can drink at will and stop when necessary. I raised hell for 35 years. Close bars and trained Soldier at 5:30 am. Some people can drink themselves silver. I drink a beer on a rare occasion now. When I got marry. Drinking was costly and I found better things to do. Your poem is true. The more we drink. The more we want. A wise person learn it isn't worth the pain of the hangover. I like the way you explain the steps of drinking. Ain't wise to lose control in the view of strangers. A excellent poem. Thank you.
Coyote