Snow, Smokes and Ale

walking in the snowstorm

3A.M.

on my way to the

local convenience store

for a secret

pack of Camels

and a 18 ounce can of

Blue Ribbon

got the Walkman playing some

tasty tunes

and

it is set to

loud

…very loud…

and

perhaps I am going deaf

at 41

but

I like it

jammed all the way up

shielding me from the

noise from the

snow plows

and

the beating of my

tar infested heart

which is on its way

to giving out

as I take my tender steps

in the 4 inches of

the frosted white stuff

but I make it to the shop

and I blow my fat nose

in the handkerchief

that I brought along with me

at the last second

and I am glad

that I did

as my nose can only

hold so much December snot

in front of the cooler

I pull the Pabst out

and smiling I make my way to the

gentleman behind the register

and he knows me by name now

and asks me

why I am out so late

once again

“It’s a secret...this smoking and drinking”

he nods his head

and charges me a whopping

12 bucks with change

I slide a twenty from my

tin cigarette holder

and hand it to him

he holds it up to the neon light above

making sure it

is not

one of those

counterfeit

Grants

that have been circulating lately

here in my hometown

in upstate NY

and placing it into the drawer

he pulls out my change and wishes me

a nice evening

and so

I hit the snow again

and turning the volume

back up

I make my way up

Vestal Avenue

to my home

where a family of three

(not counting 4 cats)

will hopefully still be sleeping

so I can get nice and toasty in front of the fire

with my music playing softly

as I take mighty pulls from my can of ale

as the clock marches along

it’s a good life,

times like this you know

and pulling my socks off

I hold my feet up

in front of the flames

and I become

warm all over

and the beer hits the spot

right on

as The Beatles album

Rubber Soul

plays on

I feel good and alive

and tomorrow night

will be no different

and the man at the register

will ask me

again

why so late

and I’ll just smile

and give him

my same old line

and

beer and smokes

are really a good thing

to leave the house for

anytime of the day

or night

and the needle

will unleash itself from the groove

on the vinyl

running  into the label

and I’ll have to rise and

flip the record over

and I will do so

with a grin on my face

and beer on my breath

as I fish for the matches to

light a smoke up

out on the back porch

where the moon will find me

alone

and buzzed slightly

where the flame will find the butt

and all will be right with the world

with the clock striking four A.M.

and my now slippered feet

will slowly become cool again

as the snow falls

softly and the glow from the Camel

will keep me company

until I flick it

out

to the hills of snow

and head on inside

to my waiting can of ale

and a fire

I lit for myself

a man needs to pamper himself sometimes

and it can be quite addictive

as this is my third night in a row

and tomorrow will come fast

I’ll be ready for it

with money in my pocket

and a thirst in my heart

for things I am not

allowed to do

but

I do

anyway