In the bottom of a bottle

But that hasn't stopped me from searching

Even though, through the fog,

I can no longer tell what I was looking for

In this haze, I can not find love

Just an activity that passes for it momentarily

And while those moments are entertaining

They do not penetrate the surface

To reach the place where something is clearly lacking

For no matter how much liquid courage is consumed

No matter how many places that courage takes me

Nor how many stories it will give me to tell

The liquid itself does not fill the hole

The more I consume

The tougher my outer shell becomes

I become the bottle

And am left just as empty

Eventually sleep comes

Or what passes for it

It is not a true sleep

With rest and refreshment

And pleasant healing dreams

It is a thrashing unconsciousness

That leaves me more tired in the morning

But at least I am not awake

Walking the sidewalks

Battling the flood of thoughts

And for that I am grateful