his quiet night alone

as I drink my scotch-and-soda
                                          my good friend fights leukemia
as a woman from Austin sings
                                          he loves his scotch with a splash of water
as she sings “Hush Little Baby Don’t You Cry”
                                          he prefers single-malt
as she sings “Summertime”
                                          he also enjoys good Irish whiskey
as I decide this singer is quite good
                                          he lies with his thoughts in the hospital
as I look up to order my second
                                          he, hour after hour, consumes drips of cancer poison
as I chat with the attractive waitress
                                          his attentive nurse brings another liter
as I consume music and scotch among many in good humor
                                          he lies his quiet night alone

his quiet night alone 

Bob Komives 

Bob Komives :: Fort Collins © 2012 :: His Quiet Night Alone :: 1201

Drafted as my  friend undergoes his first chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia, 

third week of May, 2007.