The last poem that I will do tonight is a duet actually.
This is a duet, I'm going to do with Johnny Cash, one
of my favorite recording artists.
So at the end of this, you're going to hear me sing.
And I apologize in advance, there's
a reason I'm a poet not a singer.
But in the poem there'll be the italicized portions,
are the ones that I will sing and they are the ones that
are being sung by Johnny Cash.
So it comes from his song Why Me Lord,
which was actually written by Kris Kristofferson.
So thank you, again Diana.
And thanks, everybody to coming out.
I really appreciate it.
Loved it.
And this is called Honky Tonk Sonnet,
a duet with Johnny Cash.
Before cancer, I was a country.
Now I'm a fucking country song.
Job gone, house gone, wife diagnosed
with post-traumatic stress.
I'm missing more organs than the looted church.
Even my dog has been repossessed.
Know what I got left, two years.
The lifespan of an average rat.
My wife's therapist tells me I can use this time
to find out who I really am.
(SINGING) Lord help me Jesus, I've wasted it so.
Help me Jesus, I know what I am.
Squeak.
Thanks, everybody.
[APPLAUSE]