Sometimes the show
has to go on
because you’re
the only one
who can do it.

Even if you
don’t think
you can,
you
do.

Even if they think
they can do it
better than you
or have more friends
to help them,
or supporters
who see them through.

Sometimes it’s only you.
And you have to
be that dude.

Though they wrote
a sign or two,
made a couple million
faster than you,
drive faster cars
than your Subaru,
Dude, do you.

Be you.
Even if your gas
lights an engine or two,
stirs a few pots or two,
gets a few fuming too,
dude be you.

It’s better to like you
than for them to like you.
The rhyme and reason of it is
Life is a business,
growing up is the trick.

If you feel this,
then don’t care what
they say or do.
Let them hate.
It feels good to know
someone’s thinking of you. 

 

Jason Wright is the editor and founder of Oddball Magazine. His column appears weekly. His third book, Train of Thought 2: Almost Home is available now at the Oddball Book Store.