Crawling
creeping
flicking at the edge of awareness
a thirst
comes late in the afternoon
I shouldn’t do it
I know what happens
moodiness
anger
ruined evenings
ruined days
even weeks
I try not
I try cutting back
waiting longer
going without
but soon comes a craving
a need
Just a sample then
a sip
a taste
not too much
I can manage that
I can walk away anytime
let it go
But not tonight
not yet
not now
anticipating
I sit back in my recliner
and savor one more time
a cup of my scarlet bloody fix
of the news of the day
Marv Himmel
March 3, 2015 ©