So long Nick.

I had a lifelong friend called Nicky. He drank hard from an early age, his parents letting him drink at fourteen, he had no chance. As a young man he ws quite brilliant, I worked with him much of my life and to my shame I covered for him when he was too drunk or hungover to work. I'd put him to bed on a night, take his cigaerettes and lighter so he wouldn't burn us down in his withdrawn evening fumblings. I'd put him to bed with a bottle of rum that was two thhirds empty by the morning. I tried to help him in any way, I believed him too many times when he said "I'm giving up drinking". I'm sorry mate, but as unkind this poem is it's your obituary from me.

DrinksDeathDying



I've been offered a penny to tell em what I think,

I really can't answer cause me minds on the brink.

I'll offer them anecdotes from years long lost

with my heart i'll hope they can’t add up the cost,

The grape and the grain took away my poor soul

And I wound up just sitting counting me dole.

When yer young its magic and time to live life.

But if yer reach fifty it's become your sweet strife

of hazy fractured recalls on the edge of the knife.



The grape and the grain took me poor brain away

and the grape and the grain always takes sway.



Life asks me questions seeking the truth.

But the last time I thought, I was but a youth.

As I lay down with the old ones here on the steps,

me bonny life has slipped and left me with debts.

I owe Gaia a life for the one that I have thrown,

but Gaia turned her back and now I'm lost and alone.

I thought I was funny as I danced for the pack

but they've all moved along now left me a shack.

I’d looked in the mirror and a prince had looked back,

but really a demon winked and changed tack.



The grape and the grain took me big brain away

and the grape and the grain will then demand pay.



As yer walk down this winding road always recall

You've only got the one life to live and walk tall.

If you waste it on the whisky the brandy and gin

you'll come to die and wander how you let it begin.

There's a hole in yer heart where love used to live,

now there's only you and your self loathing there to give.

Yer looking for oblivion to turn life away,

yer looking for some bastard to blame and make pay.



The grape and the grain took my big brain away

the grape and the grain will always make fey.





You once was a bonny child full of young bloom,

Your da says here’s yer first at fourteen’s not too soon,

everyone cheered and laughed as you clowned like a loon.

The years slid past lost in the highs of a drunkards boom.

Then you slid past in years lost to the lows of a piss heads croon.                                                                                                                                                        

Then they cursed you to hell when you entered the room.

The shaking hands the red rimmed eyes all spelling doom.

The funs long stopped, the thoughts are slow, mired in gloom.

Slack in the trousers signposts to withered desire,

stumbling gait hobbling towards funereal pyre.

Looking to the cemetery it's time to punch your card,

living sodden life has been struggle so so so hard.



The grape and the grain pissed my poor life away,

forty and ten years were all I could stay.



Lost and lonely tremors in toxicity needing a drink,

It's far to late to come back from the brink.

right up to the end “I can stop” did you think,

as you ignored the vessels in cheeks shining pink.

But oh dear my man its poor memory that kinks,

tells you to raise that glass one more time booze to sink,

you have no life left no time to raise one more drink.

You’ll lie six foot deep while your corpse turns to stink.



So lets raise a glass and offer up cheers,

its passed and gone no time for your fears.

The red bloodshot eyes dancing in tears,

The deeply dug hole eyes up broken liver.

Yellowing eyes minds just a dither.

So as you are lain in a lonely pine box,

you staggered through life but no death to outfox.

With no one to mourn it's a slow painful death,

So long mate this isn't Macbeth,

It's been a sad little life wasted on you,

We'd raise up a glass to toast your demise,

But no one knew you to make their goodbyes.

There's your life right there in an unmarked skip,

Night night farewell adieu and pip pip,



You've gone and died and theres no one.......

Sorry my friend.