Home » Poems » Gershon Wolf » When You Booze

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...

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Kurt Ravidas

Date: 5/20/2019 8:17:00 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)

Tom Cunningham

Date: 5/20/2019 4:39:00 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

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 5/20/2019 1:59:00 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.

Hilo Poet

Date: 5/19/2019 8:00:00 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

Gershon Wolf
Date: 5/19/2019 8:41:00 PM

Thank you for your enthusiastic support of this poem, WK. ~ gw

Panagiota Romios

Date: 5/19/2019 7:30:00 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

Gershon Wolf
Date: 5/19/2019 8:40:00 PM

Eloquently stated, Panagiota! :) gw