immortal rituals

if only things

could be different

is said in the same way

by different people

in the same world

using different languages

but the same mouths

*

and he’s drunk

feeling drunk

drunk feelings

that stay on

until he is hungover

and he feels again

like the hung man

who is released

and he heaves

into the autumn wind

quite accidentally

for he thought

he died too

but he was too alive

to feel right

and to forget

he was joining

the immortal gods

of other days

that have no prayers

to their name

and have no names

to their prayers

despite all the rituals

that included alcohol

the only thing shared

between all cultures

and death

the only other thing

shared unwillingly

and so

dead water is

drunk again

to clapping and singing

and throwing up

bits of you

into a feeling

you can’t quite feel

without another drink,

you think

but don’t