Black Upon Tan

As she poured him a pint and a Tullamore Dew
He looked uninspired, and that's how she knew
He's adrift and he's bitter, on riptides of hate
On the sea of cheap whiskey toward Lucifer's gate.

At a shake-a-day pub, they call Pug Mahon's
In Billings, Montana, as he rattled the bones
Just 4,000 miles southwest of Dublin
A red-headed bartender taught him 'bout lovin':
(when she said)

"The Guinness caresses the Harp as you sip it
Forgiveness, it blesses the heart, if you let it"
She spoke as she floated the black upon tan
"The night is the woman, the day is the man."

Her words rolling lovely as dice from the cup
"A Winner!" she shouted, as he finally looked up
Across the mahogany bar, her red hair
Like blood of the Irish, half fire, half prayer.

When an angel sails in, the Devil he runs
Three cheers to the Motherland daughters and sons
The green neon shamrock's wings taking flight
She taught him how darkness embraces the light:
(when she said)

"The Guinness caresses the Harp as you sip it
Forgiveness, it blesses the heartif you let it"
She spoke as she floated the black upon tan
"The night is the woman, the day is the man."

Forgiveness, it blesses the heart, if you let it

-Paul Zarzyski