TO THE ALCOHOLIC WIFE

I've heard some women talk about,
The troubles that they've had,
And I'll admit as I look back,
That some have been quite bad.

Because it is a hectic world,
And we live a troubled life,
But the gal that gets my sympathy,
Is the Alcoholics wife.

They start their life as others do,
To share their joys and ills,
But sometimes all he shares with her,
Is the pile of monthly bills.

And when she finds that wedded bliss,
Sometimes seems like a curse,
Then she recalls the preachers words,
When he said "Better or worse"

He says he loves no one but her,
He can't resist her charms,
And proves it when he's sick and broke,
By falling in her arms.

She tells him he is worthless,
He's just a drunken sob,
She says he isn't fit to live,
But others better not.

And if you wonder how I know,
Their troubles dreams and fears,
It is because I lived it too,
For nearly twenty years.

I've called him Bum, I've called him Rat,
And a few things that was nice,
I can't think of anything,
I didn't call him once or twice.

I never did learn what was best,
"what I should do or say,
If I gave him a peck, or loved him up,
He'd get drunk anyway.

He said we'd move across the state,
With new friends, who could fail?
We arrived in town at two o'clock,
And he spent that night in jail.

Did you ever put some cash away,
With a special dress in mind,
Then have to, give it to a judge,
Because he had been fined?

You tell the kids that Daddy's sick,
To be as quiet as they can,
Then you hear them tell their playmates,
That their Daddy's drunk again.

Sometimes I'd think, when he gets home,
There will be nothing said,
But when he stumbles in the door,
I could have broke his stinking head.

The cops have kindly brought him home,
And poured him in the sack,
But before their car was out of sight,
He be slipping out the back.

I coaxed, I begged, I threatened,
I locked the bedroom door,
But the only difference I could see,
He'd drink a little more.

As I'd think about my children,
As wives and mothers do,
I didn't add my husband,
I multiplied by two.

I've prayed the Lord would send him home,
So he'd be safe you see,
But a lion's cage was safer,
Then to be at home with me.

I remember once he called me names,
And boy, that made me sore,
In fact I got so mad at him,
I called him that, and more.

I left and stayed away all night,
Returning home at dawn,
I thought I'd have him worried,
But he didn't know I'd gone.

I lied for him to neighbors,
To his boss; and company,
But I skinned him fore and aft each time,
That he dare to lie to me.

Then there was night's when he would say,
"Let's honeymoon "
Did you ever try to snuggle-up,
To a stinking Billy Goat?

They say when the excitement is gone,
A marriage goes to pot,
Though other men may have more spark,
I'll keep the one I've got.

He's sound asleep by Nine O'clock,
The excitement of my life,
But live had my share of thrills and chills,
Cause I'm an Alcoholic's wife.

 

AUTHOR: Margaret Shankland