It's Spidey's fault!

Those who make mistakes blame themselves and close their hearts. It's impossible to fix the mistake; men can't return to the past. That's why they drink. Lushes, drunks, sliding alcohol down their throats to try to dilute the memories that can't be forgotten. Frank Marlon, the gunsmith, does nothing but drink, and questions the glass after it's empty. "Am I wrong? Was I wrong?"

its not so much a metaphor for living in the past, but living in a hollow present and dreaming of the future that could have been, walking backwards facing towards the past. gleaming to any shred of hope.