keeping the landlord at bay

in my youth i took

almost every job to make money.

there was no artistic muse

pushing me along.

the starving artist concept

was a stupid idea

invented by lazy people.

i got up and went out

to earn

a check, to acquire

some Bemjamins

to pay the bills

and go out at night.

i wanted

a few shekels to take

Betty to the drive-in,

and 

to buy her

flowers

when we were on

the outs.

i'd put a little away

for that

inevitable rainy

day, tucked beneath

the mattress

of Citizens Bank

of Maryland,

but for the most part

it was surviving, keeping

the landlord

at bay. putting gas

in the old car,

milk and bread

were important too,

as was

Old  Spice aftershave.

getting the paper

in the morning was  

a rare luxury

i splurged on.