None is More

I overslept
My 20 minutes away from the time I leave for work cracked
The safety net
Dress, bathroom, coffee on the balcony smoke
Thermos, lunch, gadgets packed

Sneak back out
One last stick as I sit at the 25 minute mark
A neighbor shouts
"Whatcha doing Ray?", and he tells her
He'll come up for a beer
It's no longer dark


I'm sober now
Almost two years since I last overextended my liver
I gave up cow too
But only long enough to tell myself I had done it
Though it's still medium rare
Which is my ideal way of consuming alcohol
But I don't dare


Back then, on a morning like this
I'd risk a stupor drive
In through security
Up a ladder, zoom boom, or scissor lift
Cutting it thin
Just stupidity

I wasn't an anti-social drinker
Angry and looking for fights
Just loved to glow red
I'd argue my rights
But preferred to strum out a tune
"Played it till my fingers bled."

Many mornings I'd wake up with a slice of skin
(Hanging) from my strum thumb
Blood all over my guitar
Beer stained music strewn around
Feeling numb


I hear a 'chissssh' next door
React with a tinge of envy
A knowing smile
But miss it less, more and more