Newspoem 12 April 1996

I wonder if the guy at the liquor store knows I’m an alcoholic.

I wonder if he says “Wow. Every night at closing time that guy comes in and buys three beers.”

I wonder if he recognizes the symptoms of my control.

I wonder if he knows that I don’t start drinking until after the liquor store closes.

I wonder if he understands that this is because I can’t stop drinking.

I wonder if has seen customers like me before.

I wonder if he has started yet.

I wonder about the people who hate confessional poetry because it doesn’t point to anything systemic.