Paying Dues Poem by Richard Jarboe

Looking for my success story,
Still hoping I'm bound for glory,
All dressed up, but nobody came,
After all this time, they don't know my name,
Ultimately, I have nothing to lose,
Deep inside, I'm just paying my dues.

It's a long road for whoever you are,
But it was worse when we didn't have fire,
Lions and tigers kept us on the run,
And freezing to death ain't no fun,
Now lions and tigers are caged in zoos,
Even lions and tigers are paying their dues.

Civilization comes and goes,
Where and why nobody knows,
Ask the Roman; ask the Greek,
About sinking ships sprouting a leak,
Even the Pyramids got the blues,
Civilization paying dues.

Today is what we call Valentine's Day,
A time for lovers, or so they say,
There's still a lot of love coming our way,
But ask Hank Williams about the "Lost Highway, "
Even singers miss their cues,
Singing their part about paying their dues.