author’s photo

Liquor Conversations

Between the wine bottles and
beer cans we
hold court on Life.

Soul missionaries pass through
on their pilgrimages, laden with
thirsty minds, tired feet.

Reincarnation and who is
God we converse, the kid whose
grandfather is a Christian missionary

And I, and I, always
admit that I do not
have answers, just questions.

And please quit smoking I
tell the woman who only wants
to outlive her dog, but she,

she says after her dog dies
nothing else will matter
because, nothing else will matter.

So, I try to convince the woman
with cancer and no insurance
that people need to give people

like herself insurance but she
will not vote like me anyway
and of course, I don’t know

everyone’s answers so I help to
mend the eyeglasses she broke
and can’t afford to replace.

I am charged with keeping Order
and I am judge, jury and
Priest for my Pilgrims;

And I keep order with
the bottles and cans, and I;
and I listen to the people.

David Rinaldi