Birth of another tortured artist

"I'm just going to die alone" he jokes without joking

And people will say no don't be like that

You'll find someone, they're just around the corner

But

I'll tell him "yeah

You will

Unless you fucking do something about it."

"My job is destroying my soul" he tells me.

Oh don't worry something will come up

You just have to be patient

Some might say.

Well I tell him "Quit your job

And inject some meaning

Into your life. Don't live comfortably. Get comfortable being uncomfortable"

"I need a way out. I need something to do"

He moans and I scream

"Do you do anything you Idiot?

Do something, just anything"

"Maybe I need therapy" he says

"Some do" I tell him "but not you. You need a slap"

But not a malicious slap

A therapeutic slap that comes from a good place.

Some people need that, some need more.

It isn't nice, the advice

I give him so I'm told

But the truth is rarely a comfort

"What can I do?" he pleads

"I think I'll learn play the guitar"

Well that’s a start at least.

Because the world

Can always do

With another tortured artist

"You could always write poetry"

I say.