The narrator experiences several setbacks, including losing his job, his wife, and his home. He contemplates suicide, but ultimately chooses to live and find joy in the little things.
The poem's final lines are:
"Life is fine.
Fine as wine.
Life is fine.
And I'm gonna let it shine!"
The narrator chooses to focus on the positive aspects of life, despite the challenges he faces. He doesn't drown, but rather emerges from his difficulties with a renewed sense of hope and purpose.