sloe gin and love

once you get sick
on something like sloe gin,
you never drink
it again.
no matter how old you get,
you can't even smell
the stuff
without cringing
and gagging.
even though it happened
under the grand stands
at the old
high school and you were
only eighteen.
that sickness will haunt
you for the rest of your
life.
just the words. sloe gin
will send you
running to the bathroom
for a hug
around the porcelain
chamber.
never, never will sloe
gin, touch your lips
again.
shame it doesn't work
for love gone sour too.