How-to For The Poor and Obscure

find a job
you can tolerate  
a car that won't let you down
and a mobile home for rent
in somebody's backyard.
 
just get used to the goddamned dog.
 
buy a laptop on Craigslist
tap the landlord's wifi
and send your heartfelt efforts to obscure little online magazines
read only by other writers.
remember that one editor's Bukowskian dream
is another's piece of unedited trash,
 
so don't be discouraged.
 
shop the Goodwill for books
but you can buy clothes just as cheap at Walmart.
you might wonder what happened to Goodwill
where you used to buy shirts for a quarter each
and think that nowadays it's just another freakin' rip-off
but always check for boots size nine and a half.
 
let me know if you see some.
 
there are women who don't care what you do for a living
or how much you make
and women are the most powerful force in the universe
and an endless source of angst and pleasure
and the only muse you'll ever need
so find one who will tolerate your bullshit
and whose bullshit you can tolerate
and bask in her company
and watch how she drives you crazy
and makes you happy at the same time.
 
get that shit on paper.
 
workout every day.
seriously.
quit smoking.
remember the high sodium content of cheap frozen entrees
and the load of sugar in cheap wine.
do the best you can
and try not to worry so much.
you're getting older every day  
and it's probably too late to make much of a splash anyway.
 
so get some goddamned sleep.