13

13 bottles sitting on the wall Suddenly there are twelve But I didn’t hear the first one fall 12 bottles sitting straight Now there are 11 The twelfth exploding in seething hate 11 bottles sitting in a row Unperturbed by the passing of time They sit patiently, their colour fading but they’re dreaming of a time long ago 11 bottles sitting, suspended in time Out of nowhere another one falls. Now only ten more until you can be mine 10 bottles bargaining for a space If only I had cherished them better They would be in some other, less loveless place 9 bottles sitting sadly, they’re all alone They don’t know where the tenth went I listen in hollow emptiness as they wail and drone 8 bottles sitting, pensively they ponder Unmoved by the whistling winds Mentally they toss, they turn and they wonder 8 bottles framed in thought Someone wakes me, tries to shake me The eighth tumbles, it cannot be caught 7 bottles sitting tiredly I waste my time with words In vain hope of an end I fail to foresee 6 bottles sitting steady, I feel too light The wait suddenly too short - I am unready 5 bottles bitter in the breeze Panicked I collect the shredded shattered shards I try to reassemble the pieces but they cut raw my bloody hands and knees. 4 bottles, deep breath A silent prayer written on the wind As I hope, I pray, I beg for death. 3 2 1 final bottle sitting silently staring impatiently at the clock Its hands stuck firmly at 13:00, unmoving Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock. Tick Tock.