The Oregon Trail

Buying boxes, bubble wrap, and packaging tape
Emptying all the drawers out and throwing away
The coupons expired, the ticket ignored
There’s no need to park here anymore
I have whiskey on my breath and I’m stammering
A slurred request for something stronger in my next drink
I don’t have the courage to speak
Title page, previous works
Dedicate to spouse and to son
A foreword, a prologue, brief epigraph
“You’re gonna fail” in Latin
Crossing the room here feels like crossing rivers
In a video game I played when I was ten
The worst part is right now I can’t remember
One good thing happening
I have whiskey on my breath and I’m stammering
A slurred request for something stronger in my next drink
All the whiskey on my breath it is ruining
Any chance I’ll get to not embarrass myself
Walk up to you and say hello…