THE BITTER POET

Stars. Again. My. Companions. Are.
Laid. On. One's. Back. I. Wonder. How. Far.

Vision. Blurs. As. The. Liquor. Courses. My. Veins.
Bloated. On. Drink. Like. A. Dark. Cloud. Full. Of. Rain.

Poetry. Is. Freedom. To. Express. What. You. Feel.
Releasing. Your. Soul. For. Others. To. Steal.

No. Riches. Or. Glory. For. A. Man. Like. Me.
Just. Booze. Red. Eyes. And. Staggering. For. A. Pee.

Consuming. My. Time. To. Write. This. And. That.
Great. Pieces. I. Thought. Giving. Myself. A. Pat.

It. Started. Out. Just. Scribbling. For. Fun.
Pages. Of. Nonsense. Is. That. All. What. I. Have. Done?

So. Lying. Sprawled. Out. In. This. Park.
I. Shall. End. This. Poem. With. One. Astounding. Mark.

A. Full-stop. You. See. Doesn't. Have. To. Be. Used.
But. In. This. Case. Like. Me. It. Has. Been. Thoroughly. Abused.

? Simon Murphy 2004