that one thing

while sitting as i always do
an evening spent at best
reading from the big book
up here at Sayville West

one by one we took a turn
talking from the heart
sharing times and where we’ve been
and how it all did start

in came a man that we all knew
Big Mike he’s kindly called
he nodes and smiles when he talks
and shares how he was mauled

well it was like most other evenings
till he turned around
whispering to Lenny
i heard not but a sound

what was said to Lenny
made him turn to me
for what Mike said was “that one thing”
and it would set me free

he said there only was one thing
that would keep me from a drink
he asked me do i know that thing
i had to stop and think

“One thing” i thought
what could it be
my mind did draw a blank

there were so many
times in my life
that i just sat a drank

i looked at him and shook my head
and said i did not know
that one thing did elude me
my curiosity did grow

Big Mike smiled a smile
that made me glad
that he was not a foe

so i listened closely
to what he said
standing toe to toe

he said “ Ron, there is one thing
to keep you from a drink”
that one thing then he shared with me
that made me stop and think

it was very simple
that one thing for us all
his answer to this riddle
that one things “alcohol”

Copyright © 2007 Ronald J. Edwards