Always and Until

It lies chilling in his freezer, tucked away and in repose, always ready with an answer, like a soothsayer who knows his reckless need for distilled spirits, vodka is his danger zone, alcohol's his habit and he always drinks alone. Spending all his welfare dough on substitutes for nourishment, the cheapest brands, with shaking hands he squanders his entitlement. Simple, yet so complicated, joy and sorrow flow so fast, like water off a penguin's back, until the die be cast. It never was to take the edge off, gulp, the medicine goes down, empty bottle, he's not breathing, takes his final trip downtown.