When You Booze

At first he drank to be one of the boys
  To act a bit rowdy, to make some noise
He couldn't resist all the teen peer pressure
  Just couldn't say 'No;' had to say 'Yes sir'

Off to college he went to the land of beer tents
  Where drinking's the pastime of well-educated gents
Our hero could be found, where pop-tops did sound
  Stumbling drunkenly around, or face down on the ground

Armed with a degree, into the world of business he marched
  Just like in college, he found his throat dry and parched
At midday he made time to imbibe a liquid lunch
  From Monday to Friday, he dipped his cup in the pun

One rain-pouring day, he wobbled to his car
  Jumped on the freeway, to fight the rush-hour war
Only this time, reflexes, lulled to sleep by drink
  He drove into the guardrail, and his life went 'clink'

His family and friends feigned surprise at the news
  They didn't believe what you can lose when you booze...
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

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Ravidas Avatar
May 20, 2019 at 8:17 AM
It's easy: a booze or a cruise. Car and alcohol are incompatible. They say, there will be non-alcoholic cars soon... Although a fool will always find a way to die as stupid as possible. A pretty cautionary story, Wolf)
Cunningham Avatar
May 20, 2019 at 4:39 AM
A very strong message in your verse, It's so easy to get hooked and it causes so much misery in families. I like a drink like many folk but moderation is the key and I can take it or leave it. Sadly many can't. You booze you lose. Tom
Krutsinger Avatar
May 20, 2019 at 1:59 AM
It is amazing to me how many people stand by and let the ones they love get into a car with an alcoholic at the helm or as an alcoholic with car keys. Tragedy which could easily be averted and they act "surprised"? How could they be? thank you for getting my soapbox out.
Kelii Kekaula Avatar
May 19, 2019 at 8:00 PM
This strikes right to the heart--definitely my fave Gershon of this excellent jewel for my mental treasure box--this is contest material, Aloha wk
Wolf Avatar
May 19, 2019 at 8:41 PM
Thank you for your enthusiastic support of this poem, WK. ~ gw
Romios Avatar
May 19, 2019 at 7:30 PM
Hi, Gershon. Our country does not understand alcohol is a drug. Some will become alcoholics and die. Degrees, nothing matters once an alcoholic is full blown. Some do recover fully. It's hard to make an intervention. But when we care, it can be done. And sometimes there is nothing to do. Best Americans wake up and get this is not a moral issue. It's a killer disease.and a family disease. Panagiota. Well penned, Gershon.. Denial is the true outcome, not surprise Panagiota
Wolf Avatar
May 19, 2019 at 8:40 PM
Eloquently stated, Panagiota! :) gw
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