I laughed, it seemed

for the first time

as I was saluted as the God

of tits and wine,

a mock celebration of finally

reaching more than half way

in a novel with my

hopeful name attached;

they, those three of the four musketeers

from Uni days, raised my spirits

before they came crashing

down as I remembered

during the night

what event was to come.

Ian D. Hall 2017