Alcoholic Blues Poem by John Thorkild Ellison

You're an alcoholic but not a smoker -
What else is there to say?
Your poetry is mediocre -
It's been another lousy day.

You used to think
If you had a drink
Your blues would go away -
But now you know that isn't true
So you haven't had a drink today.

Well done, old boy!
But there's no joy,
So what are you going to do?
You're dead inside, and lonely too
And bored and in despair.

Your fellow alcoholics care -
They say, 'If you choose
To turn again to booze
You've a hell of a lot to lose! '

You'd lose your peace of mind, I guess.
The answer's 'Yes,
But wouldn't it be nice
To ignore this sound advice,
To relax, chill out, and have a little happiness?

Or at least to write a decent verse,
Something pungent, moving, terse,
Transcending this alcoholic's curse! ! ! '