He always said you didn't
have to live that way to write.
That it wouldn't help,
but
it might not hurt.
I've never starved.
I've never walked cold, lonely, big-city
       streets at night, unless it was
       on purpose.
I've never been in a bar fight,
gone on a a five day binge,
slept on a park bench
or woken up in an alley, beat up and
       hungover with my wallet missing.
I've never thrown a glass against the wall
       in anger while screaming at some
       ***** I didn't like.
I've had some tough jobs
but not like him.
Music is different,
life is different,
time is different,
everything is different.
But I feel just like the guy.
I understand it,
I feel it.
And maybe that just means
that he was a better writer than I am.
And that's true.
But I'm just getting started.
We've both brought on portions of the misery
       ourselves, but it worked for him.
So, lets see what I've got...