The day is sweating work
the night is restless worry
mortgage is oppressive
the kids are hungry-

taken on a second job
though the pay is paltry
borrow from loan-sharks
they charge 50% interest annually--

my wife is a washerwoman
from a very poor family
she labours without complaint
she's My Fair Lady-

when I'm sad and lonely
I learn to write poetry
my friends say I write badly
and I reply: But it makes me happy!