A FAIR NUMBER
I drank a fair number of beers
While it was still light out
But the sun sure did sink fast
And then it was night.
I kept opening the beers
And then pouring them down
While eating fistfuls of mixed nuts
And reading poetry, listening to music
The way I do
On days that I drink
A fair number of beers
With the sun sinking fast.
The music kept playing
And I began to sing along.
I think I peed at least fifteen times.
I never looked at the clock,
I just kept the radio on
And read all the poems.
Finally, I had had enough –
The beer bottles were all huddled
Together on the corner of the kitchen counter,
Looking bitter and used up
And I’m not sure if I was listening
To Sonny Boy Williamson I
Or Sonny Boy Williamson II.
Before going to bed
I looked out the front door
Just to make sure
And the night was still out there
With all her vivid darkness.
John Tustin’s poetry has appeared in many disparate literary journals since 2009. fritzware.com/johntustinpoetry contains links to his published poetry online.
Fixator Press 