A Dead Man’s Last Paycheck
By: Andrew C. Zinn

A war with the whole world
Loathing the common man
Then hating the rich man who can afford to eat lunches at restaurants
The checkbook is so full of bills that must be paid
We are the artists of destitution
One lamp is all we can afford
One lamp is used to create our art
A single lamp to light our way
I watch the common man
Then I live his life
I hate his life of struggle
I am angry with his satisfaction
Hating myself for being the common man
There seems to be no justice in this world
Our stomachs rumble as we leave our homes headed to work
Death is coming for us all
We think that we are ready
Yet we haven’t done all the things that we wanted to do
Because we are the common man
The poor men who have to go to work
Even though the rich man’s life has no meaning, at least he can afford to eat a cheeseburger every so often
Madmen, hermits, and alcoholics need to unite
Yet we stay madmen, hermits, and alcoholics
With empty cigarette packs, empty six-packs, and utility bills that need to be paid
This is the lifestyle of the common man
And not of the rich man
I hope that we are getting stronger, yet it is more likely that we are living out unmeaningful existences
We are not ready for life
We are not ready for death
Our art is being taken away from us