Broken Record

BROKEN RECORD by JOHN M. ARRIBAS Like a stray dog with no one to share I quietly meander hoping someone will care But that won’t happen I’ll just rail in despair I’ll just go over to Vic’s take my usual chair Some folks look at me, their disdain so easy to spot That’s the visual comment thrown at a hopeless sot They don’t know and don’t care, I’ve also forgot What caused my hopes and dreams once fresh, now rot Set them up barkeep and leave the bottle There are pains of the past I need to throttle Memories of warmth, joy, all now in a muddle Were they real?, not sure, I tend to befuddle Barkeep bring me more ice and a fresh glass I miss the old gang, after downing a few, they’d pass But I would stay on til the place closed down Staggering in public, falling, a hapless clown We use to meet, lift a few, laugh and tell jokes I never realized that fun was a sham on us folks And especially me I never realized I was a contributor to all those lies We were all pretending wearing a false disguise We were nonchalant, funny and acting cool We had a great audience, oh, so easy to fool What was eating our souls was never displayed Same people, different faces, a drunkards masquerade Make it a double martini, barkeep omit the vermouth The more I examine myself the closer I come to the truth There are occasions when I contemplate the ugly fact That I’m an alcoholic, bottoms up, I’ll drink to that