Clean
——-
Pauly walked toward
Me holding his coffee
I’d known him for 20
Years since his release
From prison ,the old tattoos
Now covered over with
New colourful ones ,&
Being 60 hadn’t softened
His stringy muscular frame .
The once handsome face
Showing the signs of 12
Rehabs & 30 years of abuse
His smile still seemed foreign
For a man who’d carried a shield
of anger around for so long.
I’d known his wife ,she survived
Serving coffee at my local
Seemed nice but think they
Shared the same penchant
He says I’m clean now mate
17 years
I’m glad ,he’s intelligent
Kinda philosophical
Says he can look back now
Understand what caused
The crash
Thought sleeping in cars
At taverns was the norm
States.. hate my father
But I’m so much like
The old ******  .and I’ve
Been going to the Buddhist
Temple
Learning to meditate
no good tho  keep
Nodding off and snoring
Need a nudge
haven’t been to the 12 step
for a while either
So gotta get out and meet
People
His coffee now gone
We shake hands
He walks away
Smiling peacefully

Mac