Warm burn seeks out the belly.
If only the shot glass would levitate
away then, how much disintegration
–of relationships, places, and things–
would never be?
How much sleaze, fist would not wound?
How many ravaging truths unspoken?
How many blubbery tears uncried?
How many uncrushed motor vehicles?
Unbroken bones, unmaimed flesh?
How many less court costs and jail time?
How many war crimes unsummed?
How many fewer dates succumbed?
How many of us would not be?
Inhibitions intact, somber celebrations,
and all the rest in our brave new world,*
where everything must be good for us,
collectively; hive-like do-gooders,
cocooned in our un-honeyed combs.
Either extreme, as in all extremes, plays mean.
Why must a walk of moderation stagger us so?
We may never know.
* Brave New World is the title of a book written by Aldous Huxley and published in 1932.
top image, “Shot Glasses,” by Nance Danforth
Punam is today’s host for dVerse’ Poetics. Punam says:
Let’s mix poetry into a heady cocktail or mocktail, pour a glass of wine or a dram of whisky or sip it delicately from a china cup or from a sturdy mug, though we do it every time we meet, but let’s do it in so many words. Write about your favourite drink (alcoholic/non-alcoholic), write about getting drunk, use drinking as a metaphor, in short: write a poem in a form of your choice with a drinking connection.
Tao Talk 
For many, there is no moderation… and the consequences are scary.
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Alcoholism is curse, I agree, and not only for the sufferer.
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I agree with this poem, Lisa. I don’t really drink, the odd glass of wine with my daughter or a lager at a stretch. But I have experienced the devastation alcohol can cause.
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Thanks, Kim. I think many lives have been touched by it in some way 😦
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This is incredibly powerful writing, Lisa! You depict the dark side of alcohol with such finesse. ❤
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Thanks, Sanaa!
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You’re welcome ❤
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So many questions for this dark side of fire water
“cocooned in our un-honeyed combs.” love that line!
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Thanks, Laura!
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Oh yes…the ravages of the alcoholic and/or too much alcohol. I do like the insertion of this line:
“How many of us would not be?” as in, how many et loose and did more than embrace and actually conceived in a drunken stupor or at least a bit of tippsiness?
“Moderation in all things” my father used to preach. He was on to something there. 🙂
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Thanks much, Lillian ❤
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We both went the same way, Li. I just touched the tip of the iceberg, whereas you very compellingly brought out the seamier side .
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Thank you, Punam. I think you got to a main root.
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You are so welcome, Li. Yes, I guess so.
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What a fabulous take. So many have been affected by the negative aspects of alcohol. Moderation without extremism is the way to go… But as depicted in the movie… how to stop from wanting to take it a little further?
So good, Ms Lisa!
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Dale, thank you for your insightful comment. For a boozer or any other addiction, “some” is never “enough.”
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So true…
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This is a great take on the prompt
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Thank you, AJ.
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Fantastic, Lisa. I really like the way you present the subject matter. Have a blessed holiday! 🌞
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Thank you very much. Glad to hear it. You also ❤
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“Why must a walk of moderation stagger us so?” Good question. Moderation is beyond many,
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Thank you, Yvonne.
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I totally agree with your point Li. Alcoholism is indeed a curse that causes so much unhappiness. It is banned in Islam, though many Muslims betray this command of God. In Quran, Allah says that though there are a few benefits of alcohol, it’s disadvantages far outweigh its good.
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What makes me sad is on days when people are given the day off from work because of a holiday and go to the bar instead. My maternal side of the family has been destroyed by it and continues to be.
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Yes, it is a social ill that has pervaded the society
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I enjoy the occasional beer or a good glass of wine. But everything in moderation! Usually, I don’t drink at all when I have to drive. It’s certainly sad how destructive alcohol can be.
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I see drinking alcohol a lot like I see playing with a loaded gun. If you’re careful and lucky you’ll live and keep all of your body parts. Knowing my family history and my own history with it, I shouldn’t drink at all.
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It’s unfortunate how quickly small pleasures can become addictions that turn very dark. (K)
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Very well-said, Kerfe. What I learned is alcohol and other mind-altering substances often start out in teen years as relief (from stressful home/school/etc. situations) use, or experimenting with peers. For some, it becomes a substitute for learning how to cope. For an unfortunate #, it becomes a psychological and/or physical addiction 😦
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I’ve known both drug and alcohol addicts, some people who were both. It’s an awful disease. Nicotine, at least, is mostly only self-destructive, but just as bad. We no longer have rituals that serve as a way to navigate the difficulties of life. These are poor substitutes.
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So very true! In our world of excess, a path of moderation seems very foreign to most! Well done Lisa!
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Thanks much, Dwight. The alcohol is just one example 😦
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You are right about that!
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Ah too much bting scary results.
Nice take on the prompt.
Thanks for dropping by my blog.
Much💛love
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I’ve seen most of it up close with family. You’re welcome, Gillena.
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Alcohol can be a killer like burgers and sodas, but that’s not their intention, whereas guns, that’s their raison d’être. We ought to learn about health and consequences, but we’d rather be ignorant. As for guns…
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“Either extreme, as in all extremes, plays mean.” is a really great line. A declarative and a conclusion. I like the road this poem took.
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Glad you like that line and the road the poem took ❤
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Brilliant and wise. “Why must a walk of moderation stagger us so?” A killer line with a pointed dichotomy. Thanks for sharing the trailer btw. My daughter’s a big fan of Mads.
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Dora, thank you. The trailer pretty much tells the plot of a memorable film.
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Moderation doesn’t exist in this world of extremes…that is a negative view but one I’ve seen.
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Addictions can have deadly effects–and extremism, too. It’s too bad that some people can’t or won’t use moderation.
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Sometimes it feels like the message is pushed that if you don’t worship excess you’re not American. How do we flip the script?
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Yes, I suppose so.
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