Have a Beer with Me

The first soul I ever loved whose approval was not found

Is my mother’s;

The more intoxicated she became

The more endearing she was,

The harder she was to reach.

And I spend every summer

Falling in love with an abuser

Whose love can never be delivered

Into these arms open wide.

I wish I could cry into my pillow every night

But tears do not form in my eyes.

I laugh it away and make jokes about her disease

I make jokes about the people I love

Because it is harder to admit

That it breaks me apart.

So have a beer with me

Let me ruin you with the words that

Drip from my tongue

And the empty promises that I’ll make

To you

For you

After another drink or four,

For it is only a matter of time

Before I create in you

What I hated in her

And I fall madly in love

With someone who won’t let me touch them,

Someone who won’t let me love them,

Or someone who won't help themselves.

So

Have another beer with me.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Your poem expresses the most poignant & powerful feelings I've read in any poem lately. This is the poster child for SHOW instead of tell. This reads like storytelling & yet the DEPTHS are hitting me in the face all along. I can't decide whether to zoom along your compelling storyline or stop & ponder the profound delving you strangle us with. I very much relate to the addictive draw of unrequited love. You show us the narrator laughing & drinking this story so realistically. Killer line: "For it is only a matter of time before I create in you what I hated in her." There are others too! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

I felt these lines deeply. A beautiful write on a painful subject. Well done.

Chris

[skin crawler]

Thank you Chris!

[Chris Shaw]

You are welcome.

[emipoemi]

Whenever I'm wowed by a piece I have to restrain myself to not open with "wow". This goes beyond "wow", and there's a je-ne-sais-quoi to it that I value not being able to describe. Because that's poetry in motion!! Absolutely wonderful. Even the messing with expectations in saying "another drink or four" rather than "two" (which despite being better sound wise, the "four" gives more depth and elicits more cathartic sympathy). That last little bit is brilliant in its invitation and ties up the whole message, but I do wonder if it's even needed as the the last line of the previous stanza says is all. That's really where the catharsis hits. The last two lines are merely a coda (that works, but I wonder if it mars the catharsis with its presence - your call).

This is amazing overall, dear poet. Very much enjoyed!! Well done!

[skin crawler]

This is an amazing compliment. Thank you so much

[emipoemi]

my pleasure.

[wordman]

maybe we should change to a glass of wine