Barkeep

[Hawkman]

Should I tell the truth?
I wouldn’t think so, what’s the point?
You wouldn’t want to hear it
while you hang-out in this joint.
I’ll pour another whiskey
while you whine about your wife,
the ‘work-in-progress’ monologue
that constitutes your life.
You sit upon the bar-stool
with you collar now undone
your jacket cuffs in pools of beer
that someone spilled round one.
The soggy cigarette
cemented to your lower lip,
wobbles disapprovingly,
refusing to be lit.
With exaggerated care
your weaving hand will now extract
the wallet with the photos
of a pair of ugly brats.
With brimming eyes you show me,
but I’m looking at the cash,
calculating drinking time -
divided by your stash.
I have to say how fine they are,
your progeny admired,
by now it’s nearly 2am
and God, I’m feeling tired,
but I carry on regardless
and I serve another shot,
diminishing your spending power
until I’ve had the lot.
And then I’ll kick you out
and close the blinds and lock the doors,
and let you crawl back to your life
so drunk you’re on all fours.

[hillwalker]

Such a scathing observation of the drunkard's life - and his blood brother the barman. There are some really witty put-downs hidden within this gem of a poem..... and the rhythm never misses a single beat. Really enjoyable reading.

[PrinceMyshkin]

the ‘work-in-progress’ monologue
that constitutes your life.


Ouch! That's mastery, man! The whole of this is beautifully accomplished - and a sad portrait of two men.

[AuntShecky]

This was well-observed, but you do realize that as a topic this isn't exactly brandy-brand-new, as there have been several precedents of the same topic:

From the viewpoint of the drinker, we have "One for My Baby and One More for the Road" (Mercer/Arlen) but there are several from the bartender's point of view . For instance,Harry Bailey was the innkeeper in the Canterbury Tales but I don't remember if Chaucer gave him any of his own lines. The owner of the bar in O'Neill'sThe Iceman Cometh had his ear bent by the main character, Hickey. Not to mention thousands of cartoon panels in glossy magazines the New Yorker, as well as in the Sunday comics.

There was even a bartender movies about couple of decades ago one with Tom Cruise and another starring the late Patrick Swayze, as well as scores of bartender characters from movies of the past, notably Nick (played by Sheldon Leonard) in that beloved film by Frank Capra, It's a Wonderful Life. After George, played by Jimmy Stewart, is shown the vision of how life in Bedford Falls (now with a new name, "Pottersville" after George's greedy nemesis) would be if he had never been born, Nick fails to recognize him. "I don't know you from Adam's off-ox!" and to George's guardian angel, Clarence, he says, "We don't need any colorful characters to liven up the place." There was a old-time radio show (I'm told) called
Duffy's Tavern. The 1950s and 60s television superstar, Jackie Gleason, had a recurring character on his variety show, Mr. Dunahy, the bartender/straightman for the drunk played by Frank Fontaine. And lest we forget-- Cheers! ("where everybody knows your name.")

Still, your verse contributes to the tradition of the barkeep as beleaguered listener and informal psychoanalyst. Thanks for posting it.

[Jerrybaldy]

As an ex-publican I related well to your tale Hawk. The many nights trapped behind the bar by bores and bar room philosophers. (There were good times too of course between the spates of violence)
Good job
Jerry.

[dafydd manton]

The image of "the pair of ugly brats", and the brimming eyes, made me gasp with the sheer effortless disposal of the man's selfishness. Sadly, I've known a few like that!

[Hawkman]

hill, Thanks very much :D I confess it was rather fun to write... Glad you enjoyed my little dark parable.

Thanks Prince, (I was quite pleased with the quoted line myself :D ) I really pleased you enjoyed it.

Auntie, Whilst I fully accept that perhaps the subject matter may be one frequently visited in the arts, I did rather think my take on it was a little different. Where you say:

"...your verse contributes to the tradition of the barkeep as beleaguered listener and informal psychoanalyst."

I can't help wondering if you might not be giving my Barkeep far too much credit. He is, without doubt, a cynical opportunist, living a parasitical existence, exploiting the alcoholic's dependency for his own personal gain (and to the detriment of his client's health and financial well being). There is absolutely nothing sympathetic about him. :D

JB, I hope you were not quite as mercenary as my barkeep :D Still, I'm happy to have stirred up such comforting memories for you. :devil:

hi Dafydd, Sorry, you must have posted while I was composing this :) I'm a little confused, which is the more selfish man, the Barkeep, or the drunk? :D Either way, I don't envy you your acquaintances :devil:

Thank you all for reading and commenting, Live and be well, Hawk.

[Delta40]

very brutal perspective and I feel as if a barkeep is a form of prositution!

[Hawkman]

Hi D40, well perhaps it is, but the Barkeep at least my Barkeep, is definatley no victim here, He is an individual who is quite prepared to exploit the weaknesses of others. Perhaps the more traditional prostitute also does this, though at considerably more personal risk!

Live long and prosper, H

[dafydd manton]

I meant the drunk, but I suppose the barman fits the bill. Please note that those have only been passing asquaintances!

[Hawkman]

I'm curious, why do you feel the drunk is the more selfish of the two?

[dafydd manton]

I don't know, and now I;ve read back over it a few times, it wasn't a good piece of judgement. He's just sad, but the barman? Never been in the situation, so I wouldn't know... Interesting emotions it clocks up...

[Bar22do]

A good piece of writing indeed, hawk. Enjoyed your verse's rhythm and wit. Working with alcoholics, I sympathize with the drunker, so disarming and helpless as he shows his children' pictures to the barman, unaware of the last's cynicism and as if hoping that staring at his kids will give him strength not to take the next shot. On the other hand, a man who keeps a bar does it to earn money, though of course your barkeeper is particularly calculated... Thanks hawk

[Hawkman]

Thanks Bar, for rescuing this from obscurity :D I'm glad you found the rhythm and wit enjoyable. With regard to the barman, surely the onus is on him, as a responsible member of society, to refuse to serve someone who has, "had enough"? I don't think the one in my poem is very responsible...

Thanks again for reading and commenting.

Live and be well, H

[dafydd manton]

Of course! Idiot me - that was the very point I'd missed! Sorry for being a bit dense! You would hve thought with all my training raising the wrist, I would have cottoned on. Thanks for waking me up!