J.J. Campbell

twenty-five years
since one chapter
of my life faded
into the next one

the pay was better
but the hours fucking
sucked

a few too many nights
closing down bars
instead of clocking
in and eventually
the poet took over

now the creep is
hoping his winning
lottery ticket gets
pulled one of these
nights

pacing a small
room

broken down
television

and endless amounts
of shit scribbled on
page after page

this is what happens
when the smart kid
decides he doesn’t
want to make money
for someone else