*
My brother – he say ‘Never too young to die’,
an’ my mama don’t say any less o’ a lie.
Papa got shot in the back o’ the head tonight,
pissing grog out an’ losin’ blood over a fight.
The box dis’peared neath’ the dirt
an’ so I said ‘good-bye’ to a bit o’ my heart,
most o’ my hurt.
Just another failure-
couldn’t stand on two feet
livin’ down at my end o’ the street.
My mama – she say ‘Don’t never back down’,
so I’ll be wise an’ move on proven ground.
Uncle lost his gold in jail an’ took his life,
mama cover’d his body an’ took the knife.
The money she found I burned
an’ so I said ‘good-bye’ to a bit o’ hard cash;
Dirty, unearned.
Just another failure-
couldn’t look at himself
livin’ on my end o’ the gun shelf.
