letter to an old friend.

howdy.

im at work, and there isnt much going on, so i thought i'd write you.

it's been too long, and ive been too down. you see.

these things take from me, they eat at me.

 

every day gnaws.

 

one more punched timecard.

one more dead dream.

one more empty bottle.

one step closer to nirvana.

 

i have loans now.

i cant afford to dream.

 

i have a woman now.

i cant afford to wander.

 

one more payment.

one more pay period gone from my life.

one more blunt.

one step closer to...whatever man.

 

these things take from me, they beg for more.

 

they want all.

they want all.

 

they want the bluebird.

they want it,

dead.

 

ill never let them find it.

ill never let them find it.

ill never let them put out that fire completely.

 

these things,

they eat

at

me.

 

they gnaw.

everday,

gnaws.

 

how have you been?

Reviews

[Nautili]

I admire the honesty of this letter,usually letters are so bland, so innocuous. It reminded me of Sisyphus rolling up the stone up the mountain, only to reach the top, where it rolls down and he must start all over again.. only to have it fall down again, over and over it goes. the bluebird line.... whenever we see one I always say to my kids, "Look,the bluebird of happiness!" from an old Shirley Temple movie. They think that is so corny, but when they see one as adults, they will remember that. When I saw that line, I smiled.

[Amplyyours]

This is the letter I should write and never do, the fact that it is so honest and explains where you are at as an artist just makes this one special. I truly felt this, the daily fight between dreams and reality, what life should be and what it is. Let the zombies gnaw but keep that bluebird safe.

[Logan Carryall]

"That feeling isn't fear, it's just telling you to move"- Rancid

I like this alot.

[W.k.kortas]

Normally, I would say this much repetition is overkill, but given the theme here--the notion of the constant daily grind, the monotony of life snuffing out ones dreams--it's appropriate; indeed, it's a nice example of form and meaning working hand-in-hand. The tenth stanza I find just a touch problematic--it's very straight-ahead, and it seems to clash with the rest of the piece, which is a little more indirect and circumspect; obviously, that is just one man's opinion. This is fine work--it's knowing and intelligent, spare without being incomplete.

[Emily B]

oh, it's perfect.

Bluebird dreams and lost paydays. Absolutely.