The smiling men with no hair are laughing
about Switzerland and euthanasia.
Their pint glasses are empty
and their ring fingers are dead.
They are talking about life
after divorce and going grey
and how their parents have all paid off
their mortgages and spend their days
twiddling their thumbs together at home.
The landlord interrupts, suggests
they should invite their parents for a drink.
Nah, one smiling man with no hair says.
They wouldn’t be caught dead buying a round.

© Carl Burkitt 2023