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Sunday, April 4, 2010

the drunkard: 2 poems

by horace p sternwall

pictures by rhoda




unrepentant


comrades raise a glass with me
in defiance of sobriety
though some may deem it blasphemy
i say that drink will set us free

free from the stress of stroil and strife
from squalling brat and scowling wife
shall fate forever twist the knife
or life be ever slave to life

oh precious nectar that dissolves
the endless cloud that e'er revolves
around the weary wanderer's head
from your embrace must we be led



down duty's dark and dreary path
or follow the illumined swath
you cut through universal gloom
to ease our unavoidable doom

comrades raise a glass with me
in defiance of sobriety
though some may deem it blasphemy
i say that drink will set us free




body leaving blues


when you leave your body
your body don't leave you
it drags you around like a comatose cow
up and down the avenue

well my body left me
left me so sad and blue
sitting on the sidewalk
without a mumbling clue

whistling policemen pass me by
laughing schoolgirls too
highbrow ladies with birds in their hats
doing the old soft shoe



seems the whole world has a purpose
a reason to be up and about
can't they see that my poor head hurts
why do they have to shout?

blinking in the sunlight
i got the sidewalk blues
world oh why did you break my heart
and what scoundrel stole my shoes?




1 comment:

Dan Leo said...

I love Horace. Next to Arnold Schnabel I gotta say he's my favorite American poet.