It’s Valentine’s Day

by James Babbs

it’s valentine’s day and
I'm getting drunk again
sitting near the window
watching cars driving past and
they’re probably carrying
happy couples full of love
to all the happy places
where happy couples go
while I’m pouring
more whiskey in my coffee
because
I like how it burns
every time I take a drink and
it’s not, quite, dark yet
no
when I look through the window
I can, still, see
traces of light in the sky and
I know something about loneliness
just ask me about it
the next time you see me and
maybe
I’ll tell you what it is