wrote counting the hours
L Vargas

years ago
I stared into my drink
and wondered
what lay inside
that quart
but knew it would sing me
down the avenues of miscreant youth

now older
I still stare into my drink
jim and seven
in a glass
and the song is an old country ballad
of steel guitar like
and it sings to me roads
with signs I've already read
but heeded nothing