those days are never that far

i was

never burdened with a large

tuition

to pay

off once school

had ended.

i was fortunate enough to be

poor

and get into a community college

which i hitchhiked

to every morning,

it was the best

six years of my life

as i read

every book

i could borrow.

i educated myself,

i drank and sang songs,

i played a guitar.

and then

i dug ditches for a while,

washed

dishes, sold shoes

and

painted houses.

sold cars.

i couldn't imagine a more

productive

life. and still,

those days are never

that far.