Billy Collins Drinking Alone - The Georgia Review

Billy CollinsDrinking Aloneafter Li PoThis is not after Li Pothe way the state is after mefor neglecting to pay all my taxes,nor the way I am afterthe woman in front of meon the long line at the post office.Li Po, I am not saying“After you”as I stand holding openone of the heavy glass doorsthat divide the centuriesin a long corridor of glass doors.No, the only way this is after youis in the way they sayit’s just one thing after another,like the way I will pauseto raise a glass of wine to youafter I finish writing this poem.So let me get backto sitting in the wind alone[ 447 ]

448 the georgia reviewamong the pines with a pencil in my hand.After all, you had your turn,and mine will soon be done,then someone else will sit here after me.