Poem: For Getting By
Author: Erundur Anwamehtar
Date Written: 01/13/2004
I’m not perfect, I never claimed to be–
which is odd, ’cause it’s expected.
It’s what I expect.
What do you expect from me?
I know I can’t change.
Yesterday’s a stain,
but I can add it up and spend tomorrow living.
There’s no reason not to live tomorrow,
no reason not to live today.
There’s more to life than goodbye.
It costs more to not remain idle;
it’s the price of striving for survival.
I know I can’t change.
Yesterday’s a stain,
but I can add it up and spend tomorrow living.
What do you expect?
I expect to get by, I’ve seen it
in the life of that other guy.
I asked him what made him so angry,
why his hands wanted to grab and shake me.
He couldn’t explain it as we walked,
not even the vodka would talk.
His course took him
across the street, but he got by
because the cars stopped.
I can’t stop thinking that if I were drinking
I’d be stuck paying seven bucks
every time I wanted to get by.
And the charge for getting high!
I’d lend my change to a drifter
who could spend it swifter,
but I’d rather give more than just this life.
I want to see him live.