you will take them to the ocean,to the last mermaid,seaweed and shark, merry whale,end of flesh and hour and horror,and finally they stopand finally you go ontoward your ocean,the cigar biting your lipsthe way loved used to. — Charles Bukowski, “The Race,” At Terror Street and Agony Way, (Ellipsis London Pr Ltd, January 1, 2000)… Continue reading Charles Bukowski
She was desperate and she was choosey at the same time and, in a way, beautiful, but she didn’t have quite enough going for her to become what she imagined herself to be. — Charles Bukowski, Factotumn ( Ecco, May 31, 2002) Originally t published 1975.
To give life you must take life,and as our grief falls flat and hollowupon the billion-blooded seaI pass upon serious inward-breaking shoals rimmedwith white-legged, white-bellied rotting creatureslengthily dead and rioting against surrounding scenes.Dear child, I only did to you what the sparrowdid to you; I am old when it is fashionable to beyoung; I cry… Continue reading Charles Bukowski
Girl In A Miniskirt Reading The Bible Outside My Window Sunday, I am eating agrapefruit, church is over at the RussianOrthodox to thewest. she is darkof Eastern descent,large brown eyes look up from the Biblethen down. a small red and blackBible, and as she readsher legs keep moving, moving,she is doing a slow rhythmic dancereading… Continue reading Charles Bukowski
She was perfect, pure maddening sex, and she knew it, and she played on it, dripped it, and allowed you to suffer for it. — Charles Bukowski, Factotum. (Ecco May 31, 2002) Originally published 1975.
Who in the Hell is Tom Jones? I was shacked with a24 year old girl fromNew York City fortwo weeks- aboutthe time of the garbagestrike out there, andone night my 34 yearold woman arrived andshe said, “I want to seemy rival.” she didand then she said, “o,you’re a cute little thing!”next I knew there was… Continue reading Charles Bukowski
there are worse thingsthan being alonebut it often takesdecades to realize thisand most often when you doit’s too lateand there’s nothing worsethan too late ― Charles Bukowski, “Oh Yes,” War All the Time. (Ecco; First Trade Edition edition June 5, 2002) Originally published June 5th 1984.
there is a place in the heartthat will never be filled and we will waitandwait in thatspace. — Charles Bukowski, from “no help for that,” You Get So Alone at Times That it Just Makes Sense (Black Sparrow Press,1986)
Unblinking Grief the last cigarettes are smoked, the loaves are sliced,and lest this be taken for wry sorrow,drown the spider in wine. you are much more than simply dead:I am a dish for your ashes,I am a fist for your vanished air. the most terrible thing about lifeis finding it gone. Charles Bukowski, Sifting Through… Continue reading Charles Bukowski
it’s always when a man’s swollenwith love and everythingelsethat it keeps rainingsplatteringfloodingraingood for the trees and thegrass and the air…good for things thatlive alone. — Charles Bukowski, from “Prayer in Bad Weather,” Love Is a Dog from Hell: Poems, 1974-1977. (Ecco; Ecco edition May 31, 2002) Originally published 1977.
The Vale of Soul-Making 