My first time drunk
By jfarrell
I was 16 and it was the first, and worst, party I’d been to
“Bring a bottle”
4 turned up; 2 brought bottles of whiskey; 0 drinks whiskey.
Well, I’m buggered if I’m wasting ten quid.
A minute ago I was teetotal,
Now, I’m a whisky drinker.
For four hours, the four of us
Sang along and headbanged to “Yellow Submarine”
Whilst I drank the whiskey.
As I drained the last I exclaimed
“Damn! 2 bottles of whiskey. Can I take my drink or what?”
Then collapsed on the floor.
Awake, but unable to move or speak
Just hope nothing bad happens
Now, that’s getting paralytically drunk, for real.
Scared I might vomit,
My ‘friends’ put me in the garden, for fresh air
And forgot about me.
Some hours later
Someone sees a body dumped in the garden
And all sigh in relief, it’s just me.
You’d think there’d be something to learn from that;
Some lesson about the folly of drinking.
But, I was a drunk, long before I discovered alcohol.
happy 2018 all
By jfarrell
May the new year, tomorrow,
Be your best ever.
More prosperous, happier, easier.
Tonight, enjoy the crowds, the sights, the thrills,
The warmth and companionship of other people, strangers;
Please enjoy the spectacular fireworks display.
For me,
Long ago, a firework was put through my letterbox
And my hall went up in flames.
This past year,
Too many innocents have died in flames.
Fireworks don’t feel to me as they to others…
No matter…
Tomorrow, 2018, sees the birth of a brand new, unwritten future,
For us all.
Happy new year.
All Hallows Eve
By jfarrell
Tonight, many will dress as monsters
And go to parties and balls;
Three foot tall werewolves and vampires
Will ‘trick or treat’, door to door.
Mummies, zombies, glow-in-the-dark skeletons
Will bob for apples and eat soul cakes;
Pumpkins and fairgrounds everywhere;
And a constant litany of fireworks, in the background.
I think my scariest hallowe’en,
Was when I read ‘The Amityville Horror’ by candlelight;
Looked up at the window to see
Two ghostly eyes staring back at me.
Enjoy your ghostly antics tonight,
But, please try not to wake the dead, hehe;
Happy All Hallow’s Eve
To you all.
The noise all around me
My only regret is not hugging you that night,
not attempting to beat you at beer pong,
not moving a little closer when we were both freezing,
not letting you know how adorable you looked,
not telling you how ecstatic I was that you showed up...
I just hope that through that simple goodbye
you knew what I was thinking,
and maybe you, too,
had the same regrets.
paper plates fill the trashcan
and an orangie glow lights up the fire pit
in the distance i hear the faint sounds
of neighbors saying their goodbyes
and car doors slamming.
one last dried up hamburger sits upon the grill
and as i wash the mustard stained spot from the table
i notice the note you left underneath the candle
my heart skips a beat as i freeze and wonder
should i just throw it in the trash?
after the coals grow cold and a cup of coffee
i reach for the blue paper that is
carefully inscripted with a heart next to my name
reminding me of another note you left me years ago
about your plans to leave for Japan
my heart racing i held it for a moment in utter panic
but pleasantly surprised to read the words
nothing wordy or sappy,
just an i love you,
which made me very happy!
11:28 PM 7/3/2013 ©
.......
Smells so good,
Barbeques after
A swim, raw meat
On an open pit,
Slathered thick
With seasonings
And sweet sauce,
Cooked just right.
Sitting nearby,
My dog drools,
And just before
I take my first bite
One of my guests
Reminds me that
In some third
World countries
They eat dogs...
Suddenly, I
Lose my appetite
And grab a salad.
9:50 PM 5/9/2013 ©
I ruined your party,
Your great feast.
You shouldn't have invited me,
It's your own damn fault.
You wanted to fight,
So I put on my boxing gloves.
Until you start complaining,
I am hitting you too hard.
I ruined your party,
But I ain't telling by what.
One thing I know for sure:
You can't deal with me.
They dance
Twirling and shining in gowns
of purple and sequins
That float all around
Their strange-wedged shoes; glasses
and wands hats and bugs
Exciting, enchanting
Their cauldrons brew fun
And MUSE slowly turning
she's sipping on wine
Laughter more contagious
than in sober minds
The lights are a-dancing and
mist's in the air
this spell so enchanting
such freedom is rare
Til Monday it comes
They are back in their suits
Their black shoes, briefcases
with faces as mute
The muse she is typing
and downing caffeine
Checking her email
with daydreams obscene
That fun in a bottle
and put on a shelf
Can't break it or sip it
Til says weekends' elf