Non-Drinking Section

[couchgrouch]

Non-Drinking SectionThey'd work their gins and tonicswatch the Rockets beat the Sonicswave their glasses at the tv screenever since those fact'ry lay-offssome came in to watch the play-offsrinse away their worlds and root for their teamsthe Rockets scored two pointsa Texan yelled for Maker's Markhe asked me to lead a toastbut I said behind that barwas a non-drinking sectionsober, quiet and dryI'd say it's for their protectionwhen people asked me whybut some just didn't wanna knowlotsa people are afraid to goto a non-drinking sectionmy ex useta say it's riskyfor barkeeps to love free whiskeybut hell...those regulars were friends of mineI shoulda gave Sam club sodakept the keys to his Toyotawhen he said let's toast the Rangers one more timeno matter who sat on his stoolall I saw was himhis jokes echoed after closing even though he's buried ina non-drinking sectionshaded, quiet and dryyet I see his reflectionin ev'ry drunken eyethough it waits for ev'ry mansome go as fast as they canto the non-drinking sectionI quit tending barkissed my trade goodbyecos life was morethan my living could buyI walked the streetsand thought of my ex-wifecalled her collectand said my whole lifewas a non-drinking section(c)2005 Robert George