Almost A Shame

They were very pretty,
Those three rows of blue sleeping pills
And the two of pink painkillers.

Just like tiny baby boys and girls
Sleeping on the tabletop
Next to the mother-hen bourbon bottle.

He wondered why he didn't hate anymore,
Or cry, or feel anything but numb.
He vaguely realized the stereo was

playing.

He thought it was Bach,
Or maybe Pink Floyd,
And turned up the volume

Before he lit his Swisher Sweet cigar,
Opened the bourbon,
And swallowed the first handful of pills.

He opened ROMEO & JULIET
And counted the pages.
He reached 21

Before Lady Darkness embraced him
And they danced.
They were so beautiful
It was almost a shame.