the old man
beside me
shouted

“HEY
THIS WHISKEY
TASTES LIKE
IT BEEN
WATERED DOWN!”

the barkeep
came over
and said

“’course it does
you old fuck.
you ordered
on the rocks.”

the old man
didn’t say anything
after the
next sip.

a whore
took the stool
next to me

showed me
some thigh

lit a smoke
and said

“hey babe
a fiver gits yer
pipes sucked dry
sweetie.”

i thought
what the hell

and bought her
a drink.

- terry everton