Seeking New Friends

One excellent shiraz consumed, we sang
As loudly as we could for several hours,
We counted artichokes and smelled the flowers
Until the evening ended with a bang.
There was some whimpering from the old gang
Of hollow men, but then the April showers
Began, we sat inside, drank whiskey sours
And told our old buddies they could go hang.

We were depressed, of course. Not past all hope,
But losing all your friends that way was bad.
It made us angry, and it made us sad,
The way they looked when we suggested rope
Was what was needed. They suggested soap,
But artichokes and flowers were all we had.