I’m Black and I Drink

A poem by Paul Buttigieg

White man passed the bottle my way
And
I would enjoy his great past time equally

I would succumb just like him

A black drunk is no less obvious than a white one
Except in a white town
Just as a white drunk would be more obvious
In a black place

The demon drink does that
It creates monsters of men

All colours
All creeds

In all lands

The bottle is a god
At times oft

Bigger than Jesus

For a man with little faith
Who has lost all?
Including land and children and family

Yep
I’m black and I drink

I follow white man dreaming
To my despair