Lessons from a Pyro

(a Collaboration with Walter's Alter Ego)


I’m not a thug but I got an ugly mug
I try to stand out by spilling out some bangers
As I’ve gotten older my compositions got bolder
I gotta write with more balls like they’re low hangers

I’ve been writing for nearly thirty-five years
Through highs and lows through cheers and fears
I’ve been a padawan drawn for way too long
But I still get humbled when praised by peers

I wear my heart on my sleeve so you best believe
The verses serve a verve of feelings I want to shout
I play nice in the forum and keep to my decorum
But sometimes I wanna unzip and let it all hang out

I’ll be the first to admit, I try to spit some sick shit
It’s not always the best but I get it off my chest
Rhymes fall on me like they were apples from a tree
The poetry has gravity it has to be urgently expressed

But I’m afraid my style is really not that wild
I’m always trying to be so poetic and appealing
I aspire to spit some fire but I think you may grow tired
So I’ll refer to my alter ego to say what I’m feeling…

Wally sit your old ass down and I’ll take over now
I’m sorry but this shit is not going to be clean
If you want lessons from a pyro you know I got ‘em
Watch me gargle with some high octane gasoline

Wanna be a better writer don't be too PC or a biter
Speak your truth even if you sound like a half-wit
Read more books and write more rhymes and in time
They’ll take notice as you begin to look more fit

Look, sometimes you may just need to be an asshole
But understand the social cues and know when to quit
Write with flair like a motherfucker who doesn’t care
Express yourself uniquely, just don’t turn into a dick

Wrestling with demons? Make sure to also punch the devil
Like you grabbed him by the nuts and said "fuck you prick"
And then with your hand on fire write at a higher level
So the verse you spill will feel like it’s a ton of bricks

Go mad, get angry, be sad but just fucking get hungry
Thirst to be better with every poem or letter you pen
If you don’t improve the craft you’ll just get the shaft
So go harder and deeper and soon you’ll get those tens

This writing thing is not a sprint, it’s a fucking marathon
It’s like practice and training without the complaining
Tired and sore, suck it up, read and write some more
Because the law of the harvest needs no explaining

So you wanna get to the peak so to speak metaphorically?
Others are always willing to help, I can assure you they know
They have the knowledge and gear and they’ll cheer for you
But if you want to spit hot you got to climb a fucking volcano