Ogres’ Anonymous: Getting Religion

Posted on February 6, 2005 in Addictions Poems

Author’s note: I dedicate this to all the dry drunks out there who haven’t figured out that stopping their drinking is not enough. To those who never work through the Twelve Steps in full sincerity. To all those who bring the language of the bar — e.g. “pity pot” — to the spiritual life:

The ogres gave up drinking,
     gambling, and narcotics
but they kept their clubs and filed teeth.
They still cracked bones and sucked out the marrow.
When they gathered, they counted to twelve
   and chanted derisions at those
   who cried as they struggled to leave the family cave.