soothe

the rum glides slowly.
Soothing, reminding him of a younger time
a time when this was good
and the scotch and whiskey of old age
was far away from the party.

but not now. the stench of mothballs
permeates his clothes.
thirty years have passed since the last shopping visit

phone call
breaks the monotony
only in his mind.

his children have grown
his grandchildren have grown
their children are calling him names

bitterness
but happiness

soothing.