In Defense of Liquor | Pamilerin Jacob
Nunc est bibendum
~Horace
Whiskey clarifies what God does
not. Its philosophy: pungent & purifying.
Look how we banish sadness from our bones
with a gulp. Join us. We are touring the world,
adding sweetness into every root & tongue.
Our blood, full of praise songs. Tornado-
in-the-gut, it unscrews the knees, undoes the need
for self-importance: dancing made easy.
Thanks to whiskey, we are freer than most.
Mouth full of liquor, my prayers ricochet off God’s
shin like tennis balls. Then he picks it up, bites into it.
Tastes good, he says, tastes good. Who let sin into
the world? Why is love so full of shadows? What were
Okigbo’s last words? I don’t care for such
anxieties anymore. There is a gun to be put down.
There is flight to be made. O glee, now that I
know where you live, I will never stop drinking.
about the author:
Pamilerin Jacob’s poems have appeared in POETRY, Lolwe, The Rumpus, Agbowó, Palette, 20.35 Africa, & elsewhere. He is the Founding Editor of Poetry Column-NND, as well as, Poetry Sango-Ota.