The Usual

[good4somethingbum]

The UsualSoon as I see Pete come inI reach for a jug of ginHave a double ready for him‘fore his boots hit the brass railPete’s got a home n two carsWorks OT at the lumberyardIt’s not that haulin’ wood is hardSometimes it just gets staleNothing sours tomorrow like the same old thingAnd what rescues him from the weight of his routineIs the usual at his favorite barWhere dozens like him usually areGetting nowhere seems to be all he’s gotSo he hits the bottle after punchin’ the clockHe don’t feel good…he just feels numbFor awhile drinking’s his refuge fromThe usualOld Phil sings three or four setsWrites songs himself and takes requestsBut drunks with poolcues and longnecksWant the same old, same oldSo he twangs them drinkin’ songsGives beer-soaked hearts what they wantBut rhythms without reason hauntThe poet in his soulAfter closing I always fix him a Cutty rocksHe plays the same Dylan tune on my old jukeboxIt’s his usual and he sings alongfinding shelter in that jingle jangle songTime and again the whiskey on his breathDigs that tune more sorrow and depthHe rolls with it down rivers of rhymeBut tomorrow he’ll be back on timeFor the usualLife is a mystery but when that mystery is goneSome walk roads they know too well by leaning onThe usual…the usual…©2007 Robert George