VFW ABC

Walking while we were still able

table to table at The VFW Post

Grabbing  discarded glasses, beer roaches

and emptying them down our throats

Some fools had been dropping valiums

into the drinks they then abandoned

the beers Billy and I came to rescue

and later puked back up all over my spinning house

Steve was proud and boastful

of his talent at not giving a fuck

And truly he didn't

even when the Nazis showed up

As long as they were paying

He was happy to drink with them

I quit the alcoholic boys club in a huff

Steve smiled, poured another glass as he waved 'Goodbye'

Manny's skin was brown

and a few week later he face was kicked in

Steve eventually did time behind bars

He and Manny are both now in the ground

James got married

his bachelor party almost cancelled the wedding

and his new bride insisted

he find a better class of friend

Billy just up and disappeared

I don't remember the last time I saw him

But I ran into his jacket all the way up in Canada

being worn by a tough who must've rolled him for it

My girl named us the alcoholic boys club

We were living in the moment

outside of time or space or class

a thing not meant to last

For a season we held court

Ruling our corner of the VFW

Our throne the largest booth

where the booze flowed fast and sometimes free