CHEERS by J. Archer Avary

remember the old bars?
they were dark places with 
dim lights
places for the ugly among us
to hide by candlelight and 
drink
beer wine and spirits

back then the bartender
bought your third drink if you tipped
on the first two rounds
and told dirty jokes 
if that’s what you wanted 
and if not
they’d leave you alone

these English pubs lack spirit
the lights are on at full blast and 
there’s never
any music
just the television blaring 
inane quiz shows that are always on

give me an American bar 
somewhere in the upper midwest 
with a shuffleboard table 
and dim lights
where beer is served 
by the pitcher
and everybody knows your name
even if they won’t admit it

J. Archer Avary (he/him) is a former TV journalist. His poems and stories have appeared/are forthcoming in The Daily Drunk, The Remnant Archive, Burnt Breakfast Mag, The Bitchin’ Kitsch, Potato Soup Journal, The Rye Whiskey Review and elsewhere. He left the United States in 2014 and now lives on a tiny island in the English Channel. Twitter: @j_archer_avary