Reflections of two drunks

The bearded man in his cardboard home

Stares as the flames licked the side of the barrel

He fingers the bottle in his hand

Like a dead man it lies

Empty

Bereft of life

Useless like he feels inside

He cast a look

Speaks tentatively

“This life is killing us

We should go back

His friend

Shakes a dead mouse from his flies

Coaxed the last dregs of booze

From the heel of an old shoe

Swept his tongue round his chin

Captured the dregs that thought to run

A dreamy smile sparkled his eyes

He travelled down memory’s lane

Oh to be made welcome again

He could smell the scampi taste the champagne

For a while it had been his holy grail

Rising unsteadily with a sigh

He relieved a scarecrow of its coat

Left his tattered one for the crows

Throat as dry as a gravel pit

He shook his head from side to side

Dear friend may I say

Drink has befuddled your weary brain

They road we travel

Goes only one way