end of the night
I’d get home
she’d be there waiting
vodka coke ice already poured
mist on the glass
she’d tell me her day
& I’d say much the same
another would get poured
watching blue smoke curl
be drawn out the window
& apart from a peck on my cheek
at the start of our time tonight
there’d be nothing no hugs kisses no pass
until the level in the bottle
got awful low
the last cigarettes smoked
we’d prepare for bed
lie side by side
I’d reach over at last
once I asked how come
we don’t do this earlier in the night?
oh honey came her response
you’ll do me roll over start to snore
& I’d never get my drinking with you done
& yes I knew right there the truth of it
though we continued for a while
until she found a better drinker
left me to snore