Whiskey Man

Our dreams teach us we just seldom comprehend.

 

I listened with conviction

Of hazy ramblings

That were clearer

Than anything I’ve witness

In broad daylight.

Telling tales

through lips

Withered from the weather

And time.

Slurring about

The woman he lost

Too soon to cancer

And the estranged kids

Cause he never learned

To be a father,

Too busy

Making ends meat

In an anorexic economy;

Tears fell from

A regretful stare

Silently into an empty glass.

He vented about

The farm he lost

From the Government’s greed

Turning his livelihood

Into a business;

A fist striking the counter

Like a gavel

Calling for order.

He reminisced

With reckless abandon

Of a time when the world

Was simple but thriving

Choking on the word “progress”

then excused himself…

As I watched him stumble

To the back of the lounge

I could swear he became one

With the smoke filled room;

Never returning.

As I left the bar

I never laid eyes on before,

Just happened upon,

Suddenly I was intoxicated

With clarity

From the words of that whiskey man

So I drove off

Without a glance

In my rearview mirror.

 

Reviews

[Angel Bird]

A very profound and touching write. Powerful in its clear message.
One grand piece filled with a very wisdom. Your palpable description made the whole scene appear before my inner eye. Impressive images.

--- Suddenly I was intoxicated with clarity ---

[Helen Woodward]

The depth of sympathetic understanding is uppermost here giving your reader a good look at the heart of the poet Dale, I was touched by the ground work into the world of the afflicted, you truly 'show' rather than 'tell' here and that is wonderful.
Loved it! Kudos :-)

[Norma M Sutton]

A sad and truthful write. Double check this line. Did you mean meat as in food?
Making ends meat

[Poetic Beauty]

I love the ending of this poem. Makes me think the man has just seen an older version of himself and has decided it is time to make some major changes in his life. Very clever ending.

[EmpressPoetess]

Wow...Profound! How many times have I almost become this?!! your writing hits you, smack in the face up close! Such vivid imagery I could smell the whiskey and see the smokey room!

Great job!

[The Analog Kid]

"Never returning.
As I left the bar
I never laid eyes on before,
Just happened upon,
Suddenly I was intoxicated
With clarity"

Intoxicated with clarity. How awesome of a line is that? Very thought provoking. Love the opposing clarity vs smoke, slurred words, hazy, etc. You packed a lot in this one!

[Ed Hart]

i've listened to that man, and been in that bottle, and lost and lost and lost, until i just let go...you too