[Artifice]

bourbon lingers on my lips, twisted, last night i cap it
drown sorrows today, tomorrow i'll rock a life jacket
been the plan for months, but when i try to enact it
i get sidetracked, lose time & find it behind the flask lid
mind plastered, short circuiting memories jumbled
try to catch my footing but the ground eventually crumbles
trip over laces face-first, never intending to stumble
the taste made me chase addiction & its grip doesn't fumble
two steps forward, but one step back into madness
thru the fog of beer goggles found it a bit attractive
my spirits down but it gets up with a lift of glasses
& I'm only looking for proof if it can be lit with matches
on a bender but thought that i flattened the curve
looking back it's not really clear if it happened for sure
lost focus of my path so now the past is a blur
ahead the straight and narrow propose such a magical lure
just the thought of me trying has me tied up in knots
wanting to curl up into a ball & hide in one spot
but the trajectory for if i didn't stop
is grave... not being graphic, it's just the size of the plot
been given so many shots... often chased with lime
this tightrope without a safety net should be taken as a sign
in a moment of clarity i state okay, it's time
today will be the day i finally start to walk a straight line