throwing away the alarm clock

my father always said, "early to bed and early to rise makes a man
healthy, wealthy and wise."
it was lights out at 8 p.m. in our house and we were up at dawn to the smell of
coffee, frying bacon and scrambled eggs.
my father followed this general routine for a lifetime and died
young, broke, and, I think, not too wise.
taking note, I rejected his advice
and it became, for me, late to bed and late to rise.
now, I'm not saying that I've conquered the world but I've avoided
numberless early traffic jams, bypassed some common pitfalls
and have met some strange, wonderful people.
one of whom was myself
someone my father never knew.

Charles Bukowski