I stole this

I saw this on a website online and had to share it. I love good writing and especially if there is truth involved. I don't know if I can get in trouble for copying this but I don't care. I give tribute to the author.

SENTIMENTAL EDUCATION by TONY HOAGLAND

AND WHEN WE WERE EIGHT, OR NINE
OUR FATHER TOOK US BACK INTO THE ALABAMA WOODS,
FOUND A ROTTEN LOG, AND WITH HIS HUNTING KNIFE

PRIED OFF A SLAB OF BARK
TO SHOW THE HUNDRED KINDS OF BUGS AND GRUBS
THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO EAT IN A TIME OF WAR.

"THE ONES WHO WILL SURVIVE," HE TOLD US
LOOKING AT US HARD,
"ARE THE ONES WHO ARE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING."
THEN HE POPPED ONE OF THOSE PALE SLUGS
INTO HIS MOUTH AND STARTED CHEWING.

AND THAT WAS LESSON NUMBER 4
IN "THE GREEN BERET BOOK OF CHILDREARING."

I LOOKED AT MY PALE, SCRAWNY, KNOCK-KNEED, BUG EYED BROTHER,
WHO WAS IDENTICAL TO ME
AND SAW THAT, IN A WORLD THAT ATE THE WEAK
WE DIDN'T HAVE A PRAYER.

AND NEXT THING I REMEMBER, I'M WORKING FOR A LIVING
AT A BORING JOB
THAT I'M AFRAID OF LOSING.

WITH A WIFE WHOSE LACK OF LOVE FOR ME
IS LIKE A LACK OF OXYGEN,
AND THIS DEAD THING IN MY CHEST
THAT USED TO BE MY HEART.

OH, IF HE WERE ALIVE, I WOULD TELL HIM, "DAD,
YOU WERE RIGHT! I ATE A LOT OF STUFF
FAR WORSE THAN BUGS."

AND I WAS EATEN, I WAS EATEN,
I WAS PICKED UP
AND CHEWED
AND SWALLOWED

DOWN INTO THE BELLY OF THE WORLD.

I realize why this hit a nerve with me. Between the age of 19 and 29 I lived that despair.

Be well, do good.