Bruce Springsteen is canceling his tour
because he has a peptic ulcer
I’m canceling mine too 
because Bruce has a peptic ulcer
and if he can’t go on why should I bother trying

I’m pulling back from all my road gigs
in favor of gastric peace and quiet myself
after years of having few fans to speak of
gnawing anxiety that felt like a hole deep within
and a virus-broken voice that’s ready to give out

It’s not like I listen to Bruce much anymore
Though I used to listen to Bruce all the time
I know I’ve seen my last show
Something about pushing it feels wrong to me
You ought to know when something stops feeding you
it’s going to turn around and eat you alive
I’m not saying it’s that way for Bruce
I’m saying it’s that way for me

I don’t read many books anymore
I’m too busy pretending I write them
I don’t listen to much music anymore
I’m too busy pretending I play some
Truth is I’m too busy not bleeding to death
to imagine a world where I’m healthy enough
to keep being a fan of the things that I love
I’m too frantically madly behind the times
and the hole in my gut and the crack in my voice
are too huge to fill when I finally admit it

Bruce Springsteen has canceled his tour
I never made plans to see it
but I’m shocked at myself and who I’ve become
that all I did when I heard
was shrug