Drinking

From an early collection of works, 1989-1999. This poem is from the first book of 3, entitled "Conception"

Drinking

to keep the desire to drink at bay -

I choose my poison Socratic

rats.

 

My fingers, my lips

gnawed as strings of shoes.

Watching them watching me

watching you.

Waiting on this cold to melt.

I told them all to wait.

And now here I sit.

 

Waiting.

Watching.

Waiting.

 

Drinking.

Insulated and pink

against any

thought I might

have of leaving.