Friends Gone

Three years ago, in the late spring of '08
When I first got sober
I bought four new friends from the program
To a Pirates playoff game

We had a good time
And I was happy for the company

Today
One is dead, of natural causes accelerated by his usage
The other three are "out", as we say and
Not doing well, I assume
That is the way things go for folks like me

The oldtimers told me to buy a good suit
When I first started coming to meetings
Because of all the funerals

They were right
Though I've only been to two
In three years
Many others who have my disease
(That of alcoholism)
Have passed away
In this small city
I just hadn't met them yet