Hi Wes,
to stem - the translation listed in my English-German dictionary is: 'aufhalten', which means 'to hold back', 'to bring to a stop'.
Here is what the online-dictionaries have to offer:
stem
quote:
1. to stop, check, or restrain.
2. to dam up; stop the flow of (a stream, river, or the like).
3. to tamp, plug, or make tight, as a hole or joint.
4. Skiing.to maneuver (a ski or skis) in executing a stem.
5. to stanch (bleeding).
stem
quote:
1. to make headway against (a tide, current, gale, etc.).
2. to make progress against (any opposition).
stem
quote:
1. (at the bow of a vessel) an upright into which the side timbers or plates are jointed.
2. the forward part of a vessel (often opposed to stern).
stem
quote:
1. to arrange the loading of (a merchant vessel) within a specified time.
In addition to that, I ran the word through the thesaurus, these are suggested alternates: stop, restrict, curtail, reduce, decrease.
The complete phrase is:
'See the drunkard in the tavern
Stemming gold to make ends meet'
So I guess it means that the drunkard has to budget his money carefully.
Then again I could be completly wrong with my interpretation
.