Saturday, June 13, 2015

One Drop of Whiskey

The shadows
do well
at holding
him in

He looks
from left
to right
not knowing
where to
begin

So he walks
feeling
frustrated

He doesn't 
understand
his heart
and his voice
are related

He drinks
whiskey
from a
paper cup

Trying to find
anything
that will fill
him up

But he's already
overflowing

It happened
without him
knowing

His eyes
were shut
too tight

To fight 
the demons
that come out
at night

He looks ahead
and then
back again

Too afraid
to face
the past
he's been
drowning
in

He washes
the sand down
with one 
last sip

One drop
of whiskey
resting on
his lip

He rolls
the paper
into a ball

As he closes
his eyes
two tear drops
fall

-June 2015

30 comments:

  1. Too common that men try to drench their sorrow in booze.. maybe it's the only way they can manage to cry.. Very intense portrait.

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    1. I think you might be right, Bjorn. I think the booze can make some feel less guarded at times. Thank you for the visit :)

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  2. Sometimes the yearning is strong; and most often one drop of whiskey is not enough to fill a person up or to give them what they are looking for.

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    1. True, Mary. Sometimes I wish we could give them what they're looking for. We all have our own lessons to learn though. Good to see you today!

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  3. You have captured the underlying reason for addiction, and its cost to a human life, to perfection, Torie.

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    1. Thank you so very much, Sherry. I'm glad you understand my words. I knew you would ;)

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  4. Ah! Oh! I feel sad for this man walking and taking in the truth from that page.

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    1. The truth can be tough to take sometimes! Thank you so much for coming by and commenting, Susan :)

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  5. He could be at the his most down phase in life. Trying to find comfort with a glass of whiskey. At least he was able to cry, that's a big step of getting fine.

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    1. Crying is healing. That's my belief anyway ;) I wish the ups and downs of life didn't make some feel alone. It's nice to see you, totomai. Thank you.

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  6. Wow...this reminds me of a wonderful ballad of life, loss and pain...beautifully penned!

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    1. Oh, thank you so so much, Donna!! The trials of life are so diverse!

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  7. escaping from life through drinking is extremely sad...nice lines Torie...

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    1. It surely is. Thanks for the visit, Sumana. Nice to see you :)

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  8. A cautionary tale beautifully written. You made the very short lines work well.

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    1. Thank you so much, Rosemary! I appreciate your nice words :)

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  9. strong piece - I really like this stanza: He drinks

    whiskey
    from a
    paper cup

    A simple, yet powerful image.

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    1. Thank you, Brother Ollie! I appreciate your visit!

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  10. A wonderful rhythmic flow in this beautiful piece :)
    Well penned.

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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    1. Thank you so very much, Sanaa. It's good to see you :)

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  11. What a poignant poem...some holes are just to big too fill...i suppose it's about choosing the right 'filler'...beautifully crafted

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    1. I think you might be right about choosing the right 'filler'. I hope we can all find something good and positive to fill ourselves up. Thanks for coming by, Jae Rose :)

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  12. It is easier to find escape through drinking, but the reality is nothing has ever been solved. When he wakes up the problem would still be there. I think you have illustrated the usual tendencies of every man facing a trial or carrying some burdens. Thank you, Torie, for the poem! Haven't been writing this late due to work demands... i guess, absences are my usual companion today... Still, glad I could write & read today at your place. Smiles.

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    1. Oh, thank you so much for your kind words, kelvin!! I do appreciate you taking the time to visit and for commenting :) I'm glad you had time to stop by :)

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  13. Sad when self-understanding does occur.

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    1. Good to see you, GL. Thank you for the visit!

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  14. This is sad, in brokenness one tries to find comfort, the tears at the end symbolize the pain and the need to break free...I think you have captured this man's story.

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    1. Thank you, Truedessa. I do appreciate your thoughtful comment and your visit :)

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  15. Moving emotional poem... ~ on the funny side - how the water well balanced in here....'He washes
    the sand down
    with one
    last sip' ~ feels like important transitional stage to fathom the overflowing... and then
    the last 'two tear drops
    fall'

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    1. Thank you, humbird for coming by this morning. Nice to see you :)

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