Sifting Through the Madness for the Word, the Line, the Way

from "neither Shakespeare nor Mickey Spillane" young young young, only wanting the Word, going mad in the streets and in the bars, brutal fights, broken glass, crazy women screaming in your cheap room, you a familiar guest at the drunk tank, North Avenue 21, Lincoln Heights sifting through the madness for the Word, the line the way, hoping for a check from somewhere, dreaming of a letter from a great editor: "Chinaski, you don't know how long we've been waiting for you!" no chance at all.