
I spent all day with wrinkled brow And back hunched up with stress. The weight of worry pressing down Beneath a giant press. It squashed me into far retreat, Oppressed my weary head. I drown myself in hoppy beer And slumped down in my bed. From boiling pan to blazing fire: Sadly dehydrated. Blandly regurgitating bile, Hollowed out, unsated. A rifle-shot into my brain Will stop that thumping hammer And chisel chambered exit lane To cease the voiding clamour. I place the muzzle under chin And pull that hungry trigger. I feel the click, expect the din, But only get a snigger. I fear that fate is laughing loud Into my gurning face And pride is slapping me unbowed Into a darker place. Next time I'll use a safer route To end my suffering. I'll hang myself with sturdy noose Coiled up in shuffling.
M. C. Escher, Dutch graphic artist, was born today in 1898.
Igor Stravinsky, Russian composer, pianist and conductor, was born today in 1882.