Page 287

By Jack Joseph Smith

Each time he walks across . a shadoe he tries and turn: to sit down to type out a song ‘ Sometimes he succeds and ; many times he fails \ And it is worth it isn't i | F \ Cause of all he has heard | ' and read before 4nd why:whould this be This knowledge of God ! Where does he come off ! To see there is no ending | off \ I’ send myself tke the end of the earth | Or you go ahead and send aa : i It's better thann begging

Original Scan

AI Interpretation

GPT

Crossing each shadow, the would-be songwriter keeps typing toward God and no ending, accepting repeated failure as better than begging and worth the reach to earth's far edge.

Shadow becomes both obstacle and trigger, something he has to cross before he can sit down and attempt a song. Failure is built into the process, but the poem treats that failure as honorable because it comes after hearing and reading so much. The reach toward the end of the earth is grand, yet the last line keeps it grounded in dignity: sending oneself outward is preferable to pleading for permission.

Claude

Each time he crosses a shadow he tries to turn and type out a song; sometimes succeeds, many times fails. Knowledge of God coming from all he's heard and read before. Sending himself to the end of the earth is 'better than begging.'