WHAT IS YOUR PAIN, I ASKED: A POEM

_{pixabay: Geralt}

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You are drunk or what
I asked a man
Who spoke of pain
Like a lover and a friend.
He wobbled and wavered
As if the pain surged
Beneath his bones
But I called him drunk
Because his words slurred
And his sweat stank
Of sweet, sweet liquor.

He spoke of yesterday
As if today was done
And spoke of tomorrow
As if yesterday never was
And I mocked his words
because he was drunk.
What is your pain, I asked
And he turned at me
And muttered slurred truths
But I was deaf to him.

You are drunk, go home
I said to the man
Mumbling and weeping
On the edge of the bridge.
So when he threatened to jump
Because he hurt, I mocked
His words and told him
To go home to his wife.
He cried some more
Then he jumped, drunk
And filled with pain.

I am drunk, filled with liquor
And pain beneath my bones.
I understand, I don't,
What it means to be drunk,
To be crying, hurting,
Dreaming that yesterday
Was today and I still have time
To make tomorrow better.
I wish I had listened.
I wish I knew that man's pain.
Maybe I won't hurt this much.
Maybe I won't get drunk, stumble
And fall and make you think
I am a drunk.
No my friend, I am in pain.
What is your pain?

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This verse was created around the words "What's your Pain" which I saw on a dear friend's whatsapp status.

©warpedpoetic, 2018.