supping at the Silverback Inn

the glass stops halfway to its destination
and the sands of time are quicksand
as you survey the crowded saloon bar
in the gently creaking Silverback Inn

see him
the one with the paunch
I remember him
he was a bully
at school
a right hard case
look at him now
fat and old

the stained and sticky floorboards agree
whispering taunting mocking
all that have trodden across them
in their stumbling search for solace

see her
with her airs and graces
I remember her
she was a slag
at school
a right dirty bitch
look at her now
fat and old

the table wobbles and beer sluices
Jacks Queens Kings
a creased playing card under one of the legs
folds a busted flush

see me
sitting in my own piss
I don’t remember
how to be kind
since the beer
flooded my brain
look at me now
fat and old

the glass arrives at your quivering lips
and reality comes back into the bar
slapping you hard across your stubbled cheek
drawing tears in the gently creaking Silverback Inn