deepundergroundpoetry.com
Oblivion in Recession
The legs started going,
Kept awake with water,
Breathing,
Arrogantly telling myself
I’d stay straight.
Drank gin and wine,
Went out,
Tried to buy more,
Unshaven,
Filthy white shorts,
Lost, rolling on lawn,
Somehow got home.
Monday, waiting for offie,
Looked like death,
Fear in eyes
Of passers-by,
Waiting for drink,
Drink relieved me.
Drank all day,
Next day,
Double brandy
Just about settled me,
Drank some more,
Thought constantly
I’d collapse;
Then what?
Fit? Coronary?
Insanity? Worse?
Took a Heminevrin,
Paced the house
All night,
Weak legs,
Lack of feeling
In extremities,
Drank water
To keep the
Life functions going,
Played devotional music,
Dedicated my life
To God,
Prayed constantly,
Renounced evil.
Next day,
Two Valiums
Helped me sleep.
By eve,
I started to feel better.
I made my choice,
And oblivion has receded,
And shall disappear.
Kept awake with water,
Breathing,
Arrogantly telling myself
I’d stay straight.
Drank gin and wine,
Went out,
Tried to buy more,
Unshaven,
Filthy white shorts,
Lost, rolling on lawn,
Somehow got home.
Monday, waiting for offie,
Looked like death,
Fear in eyes
Of passers-by,
Waiting for drink,
Drink relieved me.
Drank all day,
Next day,
Double brandy
Just about settled me,
Drank some more,
Thought constantly
I’d collapse;
Then what?
Fit? Coronary?
Insanity? Worse?
Took a Heminevrin,
Paced the house
All night,
Weak legs,
Lack of feeling
In extremities,
Drank water
To keep the
Life functions going,
Played devotional music,
Dedicated my life
To God,
Prayed constantly,
Renounced evil.
Next day,
Two Valiums
Helped me sleep.
By eve,
I started to feel better.
I made my choice,
And oblivion has receded,
And shall disappear.
Published 10th Sep 2018
Author's Note
'Oblivion in Recession' first existed as a series of rough notes scrawled on a piece of scrap paper in January 1993, relating to incidents that had only very recently taken place. The piece was subject to some minor edits in late summer 2018, and I have no reason to doubt its veracity as it now stands.
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
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The author encourages honest critique.
28th Jan 2019 4:25pm
Bravo at the journey to sobriety. This is well-told with a clear and concise message easily understood by the reader. While it is an acceptable form, I find all caps to be distracting when reading. It's just a minor thing, I know.
21st Aug 2019 9:55am
Hi Ahavati
Thank you, and I do appreciate your comment, originally there were only limited caps, but I added all caps, I might return it to that form again. Carl.
Thank you, and I do appreciate your comment, originally there were only limited caps, but I added all caps, I might return it to that form again. Carl.
29th Jan 2019 12:02pm
Like the lines ...
Fear in eyes
Of passers-by,
... and the enjambment at the end of "Dedicated my life to"
As well as all the rest of it, of course!
Fear in eyes
Of passers-by,
... and the enjambment at the end of "Dedicated my life to"
As well as all the rest of it, of course!
