Celebrity Skin

I miss Phil Lynott

The black Irishman whose poetry could rival Jim Morrison's

He loved his tragic heroes, and he went into battle

But it wasn't a dagger that took him down

I miss Lucien Carr

Man, that kid was a fire cracker

He died an old man in 2002

But lost his soul decades earlier

I miss Kat Bjelland

She gave so many of us a voice

A girl so small but powerful

Her melodies live on

And every day, I miss Layne Staley

He always loved his harmonies

He preached to others not to do

What he had always done

I miss Jack Kerouac

The hobo poet

Who challenged what being a writer could mean

I think of him every time

I drink a little too much

It leaves me feeling hopeless when I think of those we've lost

Those people a dime a dozen

Who spoke for those the world ignored

But then I remember it isn't over

Because some have still survived

We have Courtney Love

A miracle of a woman who everyone thought would burn

But rose up before she could fade away

We have Gerard Way

The scared, angry addict that's now a dad

He draws pictures for his daughter

And teaches her how to love

We have Iggy Pop

Against all odds

Who still teaches us that nothing has to define you

There are many of us that broke

Under the pressure of all that life throws

But there are also many of us that have made it

You don't have to give up yet.