You call me br courageous, br I who grew up br gnawing on books, br as some kids br gnaw br on bubble gum, br br who married disastrously br not once br but three times, br yet have a lovely daughter br I would not undo br for all the dope br in California. br br Fear was my element, br fear my contagion. br I swam in it br till I became br immune. br The plane takes off br & I laugh aloud. br Call me courageous. br br I am still alive.