Graduate school blues

one day at a time, I remembered that,
when eventually I trusted that I would have that
piece of paper in my hand and could call my own shots.
well, I can pick my clothes out in the morning and ride my bike
and well, life is good with this Ph.D. after all, but I remember
when he tells me about his life as a Ph.D. student, I feel
for him, I remember, all you want to do is finish
and I wish that somehow it could be done
but a Ph.D. is a sign you can tough it out,
it's a 1, you finished, or a 0, you did not,
no analogs here for those who quit.
that's life sometimes.