Hijo

I am a book from the 20th century
 On the top of your bureau drawer
 And my chapters are a bit out of order now
 But if you are patient
 You can find what you are looking for
 I am a rough draft
 And I am an edit
 I'm the third time around
 And I still don't get it
 I was you
 In another life that I worked my way through
 I spent all my time
 Learning this the hard way
 The only way that I know how to
 And I'll be damned if I won't pass
 That on to you
 Hijo
 There is a bookmark
 On page twenty-seven
 'Cause I thought it might remind you of
 Something you were going through
 And there's a note in the afterword
 From my worst critic
 And I thought you
 Might understand what he's talking about
 When he said that I'm all washed out
 And I was you
 In another life that I worked my way through
 I spent all my time
 Learning this the hard way
 The only way that I know how to
 And I'll be damned if I won't pass
 That on to you
 Hijo
 I hope you like the illustration
 I armed my hands with charcoal
 And drew them myself
 I hope you like the binding
 It all my life to get it
 To gather so well
 Hijo
 Hijo
 I am book from the 20th century
 On the top of your bureau drawer
 And you can file me away
 To read later
 But I may not be there
 Anymore