Dirty Years

It took me a long time to grow up,

and I am sorry that you had to deal 

with the last days of my wayward youth. 


Those were dirty years full of fear,

and they stretched long into my mid thirties. 


Like when Jason Isbell sings of solidarity,

I write of not giving up 

on the happenstance of hope.


If I can make it through those dirty years

so can you.