Tough

By Andrew R. Duckworth

It took me years to realize
That you have to be tough.
You’ve gotta wear the thick coat
If you don’t want to get wet
With the saliva of rage
From the fiends dripping
With liquid anger.
You’ve gotta be a bit rugged
Like the western landscape-
Harsh, but pleasant,
Able to take a lot of wear
From the wild winds
And rain running off in crevices.
Skin has to turn to stone
So you won’t be so prone
To the wicked climate.
Sometimes, it means walking alone.
But you’ll look at those scars,
The five o’clock shadow,
The piercing eyes,
The growing muscle,
The product of your hustle
And you’ll see a badass.