The Secret of my Endurance
Unveiling Life's Contrasts: A Poet's Connection Beyond Circumstances
Lyrics
I still get letters in the mail
I still receive letters in physical mail.
Mostly from cracked-up
Mostly from mentally unstable individuals.
Men in tiny rooms with factory jobs
These people are in small rooms, often with factory jobs.
Or no jobs who are
They may have no jobs at all.
Living with whores or no woman
Living with prostitutes or no woman in their lives.
At all, no hope, Just
They feel hopeless, resorting to alcohol and madness.
Booze and madness
Desperation characterized by drinking and insanity.
I get most of their letters on lined paper
Letters are often written on lined paper.
Written with an unsharpened pencil or in ink
Written with dull pencils or in ink.
In tiny handwritings that slants to the left
Handwriting is small and slants to the left.
And the paper is most often torn
The paper is frequently torn, usually halfway.
Usually halfway up the middle
Torn paper is a common characteristic.
And they say they like my stuff
Despite their struggles, they express appreciation for the poet's work.
I've written from where it's at
Recognition that the poet writes about real and challenging life experiences.
They recognize it truly, I've given them some
The poet has provided them some opportunity for acknowledgment.
Chance, some recognition of where it's at
Acknowledgment of the harsh reality the poet captures.
It's true, I was there
Confirmation that the poet experienced those hardships.
Even worse off than most of them
The poet was once in an even worse situation than most of the letter writers.
But I wonder if they realize
Questioning if the letter writers understand where their letters are received.
Where their letter arrives?
Wondering if they realize the contrast between their situations and the poet's current life.
Well, it's dropped into a box
The letters are dropped into a mailbox.
On a wire fence
The mailbox is situated on a wire fence.
Behind a six-foot hedge and a long driveway
Behind a six-foot hedge and a long driveway.
To a two car garage
Leading to a two-car garage.
Rose garden, fruit trees
Surrounded by a rose garden, fruit trees, and animals.
Animals, a beautiful woman
The poet's current life includes a beautiful woman.
Mortgage about half
About half of the mortgage is paid after a year of residence.
Paid after a years residence, a new car-
A new car or two cars are present.
Two cars
The poet enjoys a fireplace and a deep green rug.
Fireplace and a green rug two-inches deep
The rug is two inches deep.
With a young boy to write my stuff now
A young boy now writes the poet's work.
I keep him in a ten-foot square cage with a
The young boy is confined in a small space with a typewriter.
Typewriter, feed him whiskey and raw whores
The poet provides the young boy with whiskey and encounters with prostitutes.
Belt buckle him pretty good three
The poet inflicts physical punishment on the young boy regularly.
Or four times a week
The poet, now 60, receives criticism stating that his work is improving.
I'm 60 years old now and the critics say
Reviewers believe the poet's current work surpasses his previous efforts.
My stuff is getting better than ever
Despite his age, critics find the poet's work to be better than ever.
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