Drunk in the Morning (St. Patrick's Day)

Drunk in the Morning (St. Patrick's Day)

Squares fill with eager faces

Children wearing green their hands

Holding clover

Their parents gather 'round them

Friends all waiting 

For the long long long 

Parade redcoats with piccolos

Masons with rubies stuck to their bellies

Now and then a ramshackle float

But mostly military troops

And tanks and

High school bands with high stepping

Majorettes avoiding the feces

Of green dyed goats

We make our way through

Throngs large red plastic cups of brew

Sloshing as we walk entranced

To the Green River

To where crowds congregate as if

Waiting for the Coming of the Saint

Of Patrick himself green gowned

Shepherd's crook in hand

Come to chase our green snakes 

Away to punish us for letting reptiles

Loose as someone yells

To the girl in green beads and halter top

High on her riverfront balcony

Show us your tits.

Jack

3/17/12