The Canadian tourists were sitting at the bar drinking different kinds of blended whiskey, asking the barman about how each one was made. He told them all about the different distilleries he had been to and how certain whiskies had their own distinctive flavours due to the fact that they were made over peat fires. A drunk woman with cheap green sunglasses came over and said “Do you mind if I sit with you? Are you Americans?” “No, we’re from Canada,” one of the Canadian women said. “Oh, I have a cousin from Ontario,” the drunk woman said. She sounded as if she was putting on a very bad fake Canadian accent. They chatted awhile about how amazing Canada was. “God bless the maple leaf,” the drunk woman said. “What’s that you’re drinking?” one of the Canadian tourists asked. “It’s a very strange colour.” “It’s soda water and lime,” the drunk woman said. “With vodka in it, I bet!” replied the Canadian. The drunk woman looked pissed off and I left the bar. Throwing some stuff in a bag Desperate euphoria, caffeine holds me up Black circles drag at my eyes The smiling faces of television’s comforts Daylight, the saviour and the destruction of my insomnia world Too many beers on too empty a stomach A bus ride from town Leaving behind an empty bar, lounge, Empty smiles, empty talk A prayer for the losing and the lost Birds sing I don’t feel so certain (I don’t know what could be worth the effort) To die? Not desperate enough yet – Just tired, unsure – as fucking usual A feeling that people don’t want me to achieve anything much Flounder around – small time Something to tell people when I’m old I don’t even need to be old All this shit going down makes it difficult to see yourself