The Illness Poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

The Illness
I was driving home had been to the shop and bought
two bottles of beer, thinking of the scourge of alcoholism
that had befallen my clan.
My grandfather lost business and his bakery because of it
(back then it was weak character)two of his children of four
had the illness, mother was one of them.
I was a fall down drunk too, but I left the country and anything
associated with the past, as they say, lived happily ever after
I like my glass of wine, and a few beers, it would be sad I
couldn`t enjoy this extra it lends colour to my timeworn age.

I sometimes think I`m a disciplined drunk, never
Drink before 8 at night, not a lot, not too little
just enough to deflect the dimming of the light.