"Nobody But You" by Charles Bukowski

nobody can save you but
 yourself.

you will be put again and again
into nearly impossible
 situations.

they will attempt again and again

through subterfuge, guise and

force
to make you submit, quit and /or die quietly
inside.

nobody can save you but

yourself

and it will be easy enough to fail
so very easily
but don’t, don’t, don’t.
just watch them.

listen to them.
do you want to be like that?

a faceless, mindless, heartless

being?

do you want to experience

death before death?

nobody can save you but

yourself

and you’re worth saving.
it’s a war not easily won
but if anything is worth winning then
this is it.

think about it.
think about saving your self.

your spiritual self.

your gut self.

your singing magical self and

your beautiful self.

save it.

don’t join the dead-in-spirit.

maintain your self

with humor and grace

and finally

if necessary

wager your self as you struggle,

damn the odds, damn

the price.

only you can save your
self.

do it! do it!

then you’ll know exactly what
I am talking about.