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Lone Birthday Boy Dancing

Yesterday for my birthday,
I started off
with a bottle of wine...
I took the train
into town...
I had half a bitter
at the Café de Piaf
in Waterloo...
I went to work
for a couple of hours or so;
I had a pint after work;
I went for an audition;
after the audition,
I had another pint
and a half;
I had another half,
before meeting my mates,
for my b’day celebrations;
we had a pint together;
we went into
the night club,
where we had champagne
(I had three glasses);
I had a further
glass of vino,
by which time,
I was so gone
that I drew an audience
of about thirty
by performing a solo
dancing spot
in the middle
of the disco floor...
We all piled off to the pub
after that,
where I had another drink
(I can’t remember
what it was)...
I then made my way home,
took the bus from Surbiton,
but ended up
in the wilds of Surrey;
I took another bus home,
and watched some telly,
and had something to eat
before crashing out...
I really, really enjoyed
the eve, but today,
I’ve been walking around
like a zomb;
I’ve had only one drink today,
an early morning
restorative effort;
I spent the day working,
then I went to a bookshop,
where, like a monk,
I go for a day’s
drying out session...
Drying out is really awful;
you jump at every shadow;
you feel dizzy,
you notice everything;
very often,
I don’t follow through

Style / type: 
Free verse
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Last few words: 
'Lone Birthday Boy Dancing' was almost certainly drafted as a makeshift journal entry on 8 October 1992, or perhaps a year earlier, before being very roughly versified many years later, even while its authenticity prevails.
Editing stage: 
Content level: 
Not Explicit Content

Comments

That is so amazing to hear, you were born on the same day as one of my great idols of all time, John Lennon, always my favourite Beatle, and yes his birthday I could never forget, 9 October. As this piece of verse makes clear, my birthday falls on the 7th, just two days before. I am so pleased my verse strikes such a chord with you. I am honoured to be the male version of you. I too had an incredibly wonderful time, but it all ended far too soon, a short time after this piece was written, in 1993, simply there was no choice. I had to rebuild from there. The change of title is a possibility, 'Birthday Boy' perhaps, I'll have to think about it, the title as is is a bit odd perhaps, I think it was formerly called 'The Birthday Boy's Last Dance', which may be better. I am so pleased you like this ecstatic voyage into well possible oblivion...bye for now. Carl.

author comment

It's amazing, because I have another piece called 'Oblivion in Recession', which details events not too far along the road from those here (I will post that next). I guess I'll keep the title 'Lone Birthday Boy Dancing' because I like long titles, it's perhaps not great, but it's the verse that counts. I know the Twickenham area very well (it's not far from where I am now), and had not a few fun-filled nights there myself. I 'cleaned up' aged 37, and have been more or less so ever since, although I would say I have never been the same, it marked me very badly, permanently I would say, I am not a good advertisement for wasted youth. I'm pleased you changed your life and that it has worked well for you, and also very pleased my verse brings you to discussion. Bye for now. Carl.

author comment

Teddy, I might, truly. If you don't like it, I respect your opinion more than you might know. yes, it's true, my pieces do mean a lot, but if I was honest, it's only fairly recently I have started to write verse. I love responses to it, and of all the responses I have ever received, yours have been in the realm of the truly extraordinary. If you dislike the title, there is a reason. I don't know...how about 'Jump at Every Shadow', 'At Every Shadow'? 'The Wilds of Surrey' Anything...truly I am not bothered about this title, and am open to changing it any second. Bye for now. Carl.

author comment

...is not bad, Teddy, I kinda like that one, ok, I'll leave it to incubate a while, and see what comes of it...bye. Carl.

author comment

is good by me, Teddy, or anything else, you have been very kind and loyal re. my verses, I'll remember you to London!

author comment

...learn fast from all that rich life experience, dear Teddy, because soon, very soon, these verses will run out here...there are only a few of them.

author comment
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