As I leaned against the counter
Of a busy strip club bar
My mind began to wander
Allowed myself to ponder
Is this what we are?
My glass about half empty
Yet not as empty as my soul
I took one long swallow
And with no word to my fellows
I headed for the door
Aimlessly I wandered
Through streets veiled in snow
Searching for some purpose
To give myself some solace
To have something else to know
As I neared a liquor store
I met a beggar and his clan
Having been denied service
He asked a favour, nervous
“Can you be our middleman?”
His few coins, I refused
Through his eyes I could see
His broken spirit, exposed
A story, untold
So I asked him to “wait here”
I emerged with six bags
Whiskey, wine and beer
I said “don’t worry, it’s fine
Grab yourselves a wine
And we’ll drink over here”
How long since they’d been heard?
How long since they’d been known?
How long since they’d felt joy?
For just a short amount of time
Singing songs and stories
Of past losses and past glories
In their houseless home
With the dawn approaching
I set off, to catch a bus or train
Back to my comfortable life
To feel like shit again
