A Night at Lavery's, Ltd.
I can't afford to drink, but, comes the night, And shadows fall, I think of you, and straight Go down to Lavery's, canvass the company there. Peer through the smart of smoke and stink of beer— Wild Bill McCulloch, Wee Mac and Ed the Ted. Donnelly hauntedly giggling, McCann half-dead. Drunken old man, snuffling up Louis MacNeice As Louis -would have snuffed up Yeats, had I
been here Twenty years back, drowning in golden beer. Lavery's, memories—get the drink down! I pass From pain to anger, from anger to bland cheer Buying this one a round, and that a round. Giving my substance away—because I dare Not think of you at night, I dare Not think at night, I dare Not think.
Gents! please'go home. Let's all go home. Hale in synthetic friendship, to my home, Scoop the parcels of Guinness up from the floor, Wobble past Lavery's paunch guarding the door, Turn, give goodnight –Malachy's packing the room Up, and, away with it, memory. Goodnight ? Goodnight, my soul! Goodnight, sweet World __I go Weaving merrily home—don't think of whd? Drinking and singing and singing and drinking. That's right; Until next evening and the expected pain Drive me back down to Lavery's again.
PIM IP HORSHAtRO
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