“Don’t Fuck Up This Time,”
my friend told me over a beer.
“Things are going well,
you’ve got a decent job,
you’re seeing a nice girl,
debts are being paid off,
you’ve stayed relatively sober
(at least by your standards),
you’ve kicked your drug habit,
why, that’s been over a year,
I tell you, Harv, you’ve cleaned
up your act. So, don’t fuck up this time.”
I looked at my friend
to see if he was joking,
and sighed when I realized
he was deadly serious.
I chugged down
the rest of my beer
and ordered 2 more
as my friend
continued his oration.
“Why’d you get 2 beers?
You’re not planning on getting
pissed tonight, are you?
You’re getting that look
in your eyes. Don’t do it, Harv,
stay in control, don’t fuck up.”
I belched loudly and laughed
at my indiscretion, my friend
was disgusted and got up to go.
Before leaving, he dropped these
pearls of wisdom upon me:
“I’m going, Harv.
I can tell you’re going to
fuck up again.
I warned you.
My hands are clean.
You’ve made your bed
and now you’re gonna lie in it.
I hope you don’t kill yourself
this time, but I tell you,
you’re pushing your luck,
don’t fuck up this time.”
I ordered 2 more beers and a shooter
and winked loudly at the waitress,
oh yes…
I’m going to fuck up this time.
1986