From Jester To King XXXV

 

And now ladies and gentleman, our groom Richard Bloom with a toast.

 

“Everyone, please charge your glasses:

 

LET'S DRINK TO DRINK, THE PROPAGATOR OF THE SPECIES”

 

[Guests respond in unison]

 

“HEAR HEAR”

 

[Richard Bloom continues]

 

“Drink let’s drink to those first approaches made trivial.

Drink to the eradication of the anticipation of the unembraced lips.

Drink to not knowing, not having to know.

Praise the oblivion.

Praise the dullness that comes over.

Praise heavy-headedness. 

Praise the languor.

Praise confusion, the slowness of spirit. 

Drink to the void being broached.

Drink to not thinking.

Drink to not having to think it.

Drink to not having to feel it.

Drink to drinking away the despicable angst.

Drink to filling the void.

Drink to not being embarrassed.

Drink to not caring.

Drink to deletion.

Drink to knowing now you’ve done it before. 

Drink to getting paralytic, to barely noticing the person 

Drink to reduced peripheral vision, diminished awareness. 

Drink to doing what could be so difficult to do.

Drink to the barrier and drink to its breaking.

Drink to the floodwater to smashing it down.

Drink to awkward middle-aged dating.

Drink to two glasses of red and the glow washing over.

Drink to the vessels and capillaries flushing.

Drink to incipient genital twitching.

Drink to dinner followed by sex.

Drink to touching the person, drink to how it’s now really nothing.

Drink to the very first drinkers.

Drink to those who made it a fixture.

Drink to knowing soon the drink’ll be working.

Drink to pubs and tavernas and night clubs and bars.

Drink to relaxing.

Drink to freedom from conscience.

Drink to abdicating responsibility.

Drink to using drink as your excuse.”

 

[Guests respond in unison]

 

“AMEN”