alcohol

∴ at thee downtown Almost, Nowhere pub 
perhaps you’ve strayed in before 

we indulge ourselves for dins
overstuffed burritos with  
GuacomoleChristmas-sauce-sourcream delight 
a feast that may rend us to bits 

margaritas flow, seemingly never cease
satisfying our craving for salt-rimmed glasses
remnants of which have just previously been baked
  onto our skin 
after many hours and then some traversing 
not well-waypointed paths
since late last afore nighty 
in the Promised-Not-To-Say 

unconcerned with appearance, yet 
i scrub dried blood from my skin 
exchanged my boots for sandals 
another trek of discovery checked off 
and a toenail, perhaps a casualty 
i feel it twinge, but haven’t glanced downward yet 

still, there’s matters to attend to 

nourishment and libations, an alcoholic balm 
for a subtle pang whose location eludes me

rising for a bout of darts, i discern 
a weightier drag in my aim, 
and my toe, now numb to sensation. 
the bartender’s pour has been generous 
my companions deny such effects 
i glance over at her
a shared chuckle escaping her lips 

approaching, inquisitive of her tale, 
my speech falters o’er my initial words 
and now both feet feel off-kilter 

yet she minds not 

“i’m the late-mid and i get off at eight” ∴