The Poetry of Charles Manson

The Tale Of A Wanderer’s Trail
– Charles Manson, 1990’s

A tale of a wonderless trail
a tale that was passed on to me
a man whose back to the wall
and all the flip guys who think they’re wise
you can take heed avert your downfall

I’m a wise egg I can lie steal and beg
I’ve traveled this world around to the east and west
and I’m there with the best when it comes to covering the ground

I’ve handled a pick alongside of a trick then steel on the DRG
and done the heavy on the New Orleans levee
and sailed on the whale of the sea
juggled a tray in a newer cafe in a hot belt in the hotel and shy
and carried a pack along the B&O track
i caught Red Ball freights on the fly

I’ve lied in my cell and suffered like hell with a wonderful shot of dope
begging despair to be sent to the chair or bumped off at the end of a rope
All my life I’ve ranted and raved to the things that I craved to soothe my raw ragged nerves
and prayed without hope to the goddess of dope who’s every bidding I have served

All my life I’ve roamed without friend or home up and down this old cinder trail
and now it seems all I have is dreams of days that were spent out of jail
so heed to this tale of the wonderless trail
you can see how it’s ended for me
getting the sticks, the hicks, and tricks