we are always asked
to understand the other person's
viewpoint
no matter how
out-dated
foolish or
obnoxious.
one is asked
to view
their total error
their life-waste
with
kindliness,
especially if they are
aged.
but age is the total of
our doing.
they have aged
badly
because they have
lived
out of focus,
they have refused to
see.
not their fault?
whose fault?
mine?
I am asked to hide
my viewpoint
from them
for fear of their
fear.
age is no crime
but the shame
of a deliberately
wasted
life
among so many
deliberately
wasted
lives
is.
The Poetry Reading by Charles Bukowski
at high noon
at a small college near the beach
sober
the sweat running down my arms
a spot of sweat on the table
I flatten it with my finger
blood money blood money
my god they must think I love this like the others
but it's for bread and beer and rent
blood money
I'm tense lousy feel bad
poor people I'm failing I'm failing
a woman gets up
walks out
slams the door
a dirty poem
somebody told me not to read dirty poems
here
it's too late.
my eyes can't see some lines
I read it
out-
desperate trembling
lousy
they can't hear my voice
and I say,
I quit, that's it, I'm
finished.
and later in my room
there's scotch and beer:
the blood of a coward.
this then
will be my destiny:
scrabbling for pennies in tiny dark halls
reading poems I have long since become tired
of.
and I used to think
that men who drove buses
or cleaned out latrines
or murdered men in alleys were
fools.
Woke up this morning and it seemed to me,
that every night turns out to be
A little more like Bukowski.
And yeah, I know he's a pretty good read.
But God who'd wanna be?
God who'd wanna be such an asshole?
God who'd wanna be?
God who'd wanna be such an asshole?
Well we sat on the edge of the river,
the crowd screamed, "Sacrifice the liver!"
If God takes life, he's an Indian giver.
So tell me now why, you'll tell me never.
Who would wanna be?
Who would wanna be such a control freak?
Well who would wanna be?
Who would wanna be such a control freak?
Well see what you wanna see. You should see it all.
Well take what you want from me. You deserve it all.
Nine times out of ten our hearts just get dissolved.
Well I want a better place or just a better way to fall.
But one time out of ten, everything is perfect for us all.
Well I want a better place or just a better way to fall.
Here we go!
If God controls the land and disease,
keeps a watchful eye on me,
If he's really so damn mighty,
my problem is I can't see,
well who would wanna be?
Who would wanna be such a control freak?
Well who would wanna be?
Who would wanna be such a control freak?
Evil home stereo, what good songs do you know?
Evil me, oh yeah I know, what good curves can you throw?
Well all that icing and all that cake,
I can't make it to your wedding, but I'm sure I'll be at your wake.
You were talk, talk, talk, talkin' in circles that day,
when you get to the point make sure that I'm still awake, OK?
Went to bed and didn't see
why every day turns out to be
a little bit more like Bukowski.
And yeah, I know he's a pretty good read.
But God who'd wanna be?
God who'd wanna be such an asshole?
He was an alcoholic who wrote poetry and novels about his own life (with some fiction) and things he saw. Barfly is based on a novel he wrote (Hollywood) and sort of autobiographic. He wrote mostly about (mad) women, alcohol, fights, the average workin' man, etc.
He was an alcoholic who wrote poetry and novels about his own life (with some fiction) and things he saw. Barfly is based on a novel he wrote (Hollywood) and sort of autobiographic. He wrote mostly about (mad) women, alcohol, fights, the average workin' man, etc.
I tought the name sounded like a serial killer or some sex nut.
I was highly dissapointed to find out he was some kind of poem writer ( note I purposly didnt use the word poet)
I suffer from an acute case of dyslexia called lazyness
I say what I mean but I dont mean everything I say
I tought the name sounded like a serial killer or some sex nut.
I was highly dissapointed to find out he was some kind of poem writer ( note I purposly didnt use the word poet)
Semantics man. Someone who is established at writing poetry and is known and has good work is a Poet
And yeah, now that you mentioned it, his name does sound like a serial killer or rapist or assassin or something.
I'm not so much into Poetry. Never got into it. I respect it. But fuck, I don't care for it.
The only poem I really like is In Flanders Field. For those of you who don't know the poem, here it is. Its a war poem written during WW1
In Flanders Field by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
Quote:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.
- John McCrae
Every Canadian recites this poem on Remembrance Day (Veterans Day in the US I think is what they call it) and is why Canadians and Americans (recently anyway) wear Poppies.
Remembrance Day I take very seriously and honour my grandfather.
I've always had a serious dislike of Bukowski. Hell even Kerouac, though not really a poet, was a better poet (lol) than Bukowski.
Fanboys exist everywhere, shitty poets have their outspoken followers just like Britney Spears. Yes, I just compared Bukowski to Spears.
Invasor, if you haven't done so already - GET BIG SUR AND ON THE ROAD AND READ THEM UNTIL YOUR EYES BLEED.
I dont like kerouac. I think he tried to do what bukowski did but with less realism and more bullshit. I also dont really like poetry, I like bukowski's poetry exactly because its not really poetry (he didnt follow any rules and I like the subjects he wrote about). Oh, and I don't like (never did) britney spears.
P.S. I read on the road and tristessa, both by kerouac.
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