TOASTING

Drink, blackout, gutter-bout

Kick back nine swills of vodka

That put an iron band around

Thorned skullcap and fire

Of words toasting Life

Peace, Town or Cousin.

Bottles, heaped grub, dead towers in tabletown:

Wine descends in light and colour

As if the Devil had a straw stuck there

Greedily drawing liquid in

As consciousness draws out.